Italians Employed on Farms in the Coonabarabran District
More than 40 Italian prisoners of war were employed on farms in the Coonabarabran district to ease wartime labour shortages, with numbers expected to double. While local farmers reportedly praised the prisoners' work and conduct, the scheme drew criticism from some who argued that Australian servicemen with farming experience should have been released to work the land instead.
IN COONABARABRAN DISTRICT
Upwards of 40 Italian prisoners of war are doing farm work on properties in the Coonabarabran district, and it is anticipated that within the next month or so this number will be doubled.
Owing to the acute shortage of manpower, district landowners are being compelled to accept these prisoners to keep their properties in order. All arrangements for their employment are made through the D.W.A.C., and full details may be secured from Mr G. McNaboe, who is very enthusiastic about the scheme. He said good reports had been received from those who had already employed the prisoners as to their willingness to work and their conduct.
Payment is made at the rate of £1 per week and keep to the Government, who in turn credit the prisoner with 1/3 per day. From one to three may be engaged on any farm. They must be supplied with suitable accommodation and meals, whilst clothing is supplied by the authorities.
This scheme of supplementing our rural workforce has been in operation for some time, but it was only recently that the Government came into the open and announced the employment of enemy aliens, no doubt fearing the repercussions from its union bosses, who would accuse them of lowering wages, employing aliens, and other objections that usually follow such a move.
To date, very little objection has been raised from unionists, but there is already a strong resentment by patriotic members of the community, who consider the situation a strong reflection upon the Government's inability to satisfactorily handle the manpower problem in our country districts.
It is contended that there are hundreds of young farmers in the services who today are wasting their time through inactivity, who should never have been called to leave the farms when the food front is playing such a vital part in the defence of this country. These men, sons of farmers and former farm employees, should be released and allowed to continue their former occupation instead of having prisoners of war receive preferential treatment to do a job which, at any time, will only be done in a half-hearted manner.
But this method of handling such an important problem is only one of the many mistakes made by the present Government.