§ 42. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the difficulty of obtaining men for the hay harvest in various parts of the country; if he can explain why this difficulty increased during the present year; and, having in view the increase of unemployment, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Dr. ADDISONNo complaints have been received by my Department in the 1737 matter but the fact that the hay crop is much heavier this year than in 1929 would appear to have necessarily involved an increased demand for extra workers. I understand that special arrangements for the supply of seasonal labour for farmers have been made by the Employment Exchanges, to whom any unsatisfied demands for suitable labour should be made.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is impossible to obtain a man to get in the hay crop for two or three days? They refuse to go unless they are employed for the whole week.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some cases the men say that they would be working for 8s. a week, because they would be getting 32s. as wage compared with 24s. unemployment pay, so that they would only get an extra 8s. for working instead of doing nothing?
§ Mr. McSHANEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one reason why it is difficult to get these men to undertake hay-making is that it is non-insurable employment and that they may be regarded later by the Ministry of Labour as not having been in insurable employment?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEIs it a fact that a man can take up this work for nearly 10 weeks and not forfeit his unemployment insurance?
§ Dr. ADDISONYes.