Pastures Past: Farm and domestic labour shortages in the 1930s

A shortage of farm labour and domestic help was a concern in the 1930s. Photo / Warren Buckland

Kem Ormond takes a look at the world of farming back in the day. In this week’s Pastures Past, she’s found historic newspaper articles on farm labour shortages.

Farm labour shortages were a hot topic in the 1930s.

In one 1937 Southland meeting, the discussion centred on how it was “quite impossible to secure suitable men” in Invercargill and Gore.

This had a knock-on effect in the home, as a lack of domestic help to cater for workers threatened to impose “too heavy a burden on their wives and families”.

Meanwhile, in 1939, a letter to the New Zealand Herald shared doubts that there was a labour shortage at all.

W. Thompson wondered if the fault lay at the feet of the employees themselves.

“Perhaps those who affirm there is a farm labour shortage are those who are very hard on their men and keep ridiculous hours,” Thompson wrote.

Below is a selection of historical stories from the Northern Advocate (1937) and the NZ Herald (1939).

Farm Labour Shortage

Northern Advocate, October 23, 1937

Invercargill, This Day.

The difficulty of securing competent labour for farms was again discussed by the Southland provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday.

It was stated that it was quite impossible to secure suitable men through the placement offices in Invercargill and Gore at present.

Another aspect stressed by one member was that the shortage of domestic labour made it difficult to provide the conditions now required for farm labour.

Mr G. A. Hamilton said that the shortage of farm labour was not the only aspect which merited consideration.

There was also a shortage of the means of catering for farm labour.

In most cases, farmers provided meals for their men, but if they could not get domestic help, they would soon be unable to employ labour at all without imposing too heavy a burden on their wives and families.

He would like to know why the placement office would not attempt to supply domestic help.

Mr A. H. McLean: There is none to be had.

Mr R. Sim: Are we not drifting into the position that farm work is no longer a congenial occupation?

It was decided to obtain particulars of the number of applications for farm labour at Invercargill and Gore placement offices, together with the number of experienced men available.

The information is to be supplied to the Government.

Farm labour

New Zealand Herald, November 14, 1939

Sir,–I cannot understand the talk of shortage of farm labour when farm hands are advertising for jobs and various registry offices advertise that they have men waiting for positions.

Perhaps those who affirm there is a farm labour shortage are those who are very hard on their men and keep ridiculous hours.

A good farmer can find labour at all times.

A young man with whom I am friendly was in Hamilton the other day and interviewed a prospective employer.

Because there was one or two minor jobs that he could not do, he was not hired.

This man is reliable in every way.

I say that the shortage rumours are bunkum.

W. Thompson

- Source: Papers Past