Period of time employed.-80 to 90 percent of workers transported were employed from 75 to 100 percent of the contracted period. Employment periods varied from 30-day con- Nonworkers.-Although some persons (members of families) transported show as nonworkers, many worked at least part time. Contracts are not executed with persons under 18 years of age, nor with wives with children able to work only part time United States Department of Agriculture farm labor program-Cost to Jan. 31. 1943, of transporting seasonal laborers (excludes return trips in cases of workers who have not yet returned) 1 Moves to area of employment recently completed. Final costs not yet available. NOTE. Supervisory and administrative expenses cannot be broken down by individual moves. Obligations therefor to Jan. 31, 1943, were as follows: Supervisory, $163,379; administrative, $33,980. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Mr. VANCE E. SWIFT, State College Station, Raleigh, N. C.. DEAR MR. SWIFT: I acted as secretary to a meeting of the potato committee of the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation held in Raleigh, N. C., on January 26. A resolution with reference to the establishment of labor camps was unanimously passed and reads as follows: "Whereas the Government has asked farmers to increase Irish potato production 15 percent which will necessitate like increase in labor; "Whereas the commercial-producing counties are located in defense areas, or in close proximity to same, which makes the farm labor situation more acute; "Whereas the cost of labor and materials for constructing adequate housing facilities, even if we could secure priority, would be prohibitive to the average farmer; "Whereas transient labor camps were erected in certain counties for the potatoharvesting season of 1942 and have since been removed; "Whereas the transient labor camps erected in those counties during the 1942 harvesting season were of inestimable value to the farmers thereof; Now, therefore, be it "Resolved, That we, the potato growers representing all commercial-producing counties, request that the Farm Security Administration reopen and operate transient labor camps for the harvesting of 1943 potato crop.' Yours very truly, RANDAL B. ETHERIDGE, [Telegram] YUMA, ARIZ., December 11, 1942. Hon. CLAUDE R. WICKARD, Secretary of Agriculture: Your action in supplying farm labor from Mexico to the farmers of Yuma County during this most critical time has saved the major part of the essential farm crops in this section. Officers of the Farm Security Administration have been most helpful in solving the numerous problems involved in making this labor most effective. We desire to extend to you our most sincere appreciation for this most necessary help, and we respectfully solicit your further assistance in aiding the farmer to supply the food and fibers so necessary to our national existence. YUMA PRODUCERS COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, HUGO B. FARMER, President, A. W. FRANKLIN, Secretary. CLAUDE WICKARD, [Telegram] EL CENTRO, CALIF., December 10, 1942. Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture: The farmers of Imperial Valley express their sincere appreciation for the help you, through Farm Security Administration, have given this valley by the importation of agricultural labor from Mexico. The importation of this agriculturel labor has saved the war-essential crops of this district. The local administration of the program of Mexican importation by the Farm Security Administration has been entirely satisfactory and they have shown a fine cooperative and practical spirit in the entire enterprise. IMPERIAL VALLEY FARMERS ASSOCIATION, [Telegram] DECEMBER 1, 1942. CLAUDE WICKARD, Secretary of Agriculture, SHIRLEY SAVOY, Denver, Colo.; This Understanding hearing on farm labor program being held. Wish to report our experiences with 230 long-staple cotton pickers imported through Farm Security Administration from southeast Missouri entirely satisfactory. move has saved our cotton growers one-half million dollars as absolutely no local help available and provided Government with long-staple parachute material. This crop planted at your request and we definitely go on record commending importation of labor and on method of handling. Assure of our future cooperation. PALO VERDE COTTON GROWERS ASSOCIATION, JACK E. MARLOW, President. [Baltimore Evening Sun, October 19, 1942] Now Is THE TIME Four migratory-labor camps were operated on the Eastern Shore this year. and the farmers are pleased with the result. More such camps may be established next year. Features of this system which appeal to employers are better distribution of labor through the pooling system used at the camps; full-time employment through systematic placement; assurance that crops will be harvested at the right time. But what about the features which appeal to the laborers? too. That is important, The camps have proved successful mainly because they offered the migratory farm workers decent living and working conditions. Had the camps not done this many farmers undoubtedly would have had a ruinous season. Because of the war, it is no longer necessary for the migrant worker to have to put up with the wretched quarters formerly provided for him. He can be pretty certain of finding a war-industry job. Up to this past summer the migratory farm laborer's working conditions were appalling. He and his family, arriving at the field in their jalopy, had to live in a vermin-infested shack, without sanitation, often without safe drinking water. The situation was about the same wherever he went, in following the successive crop seasons. It has taken a war to change this. From now on, for the duration at least, the areas which are sure to get their crops harvested will be those areas in which well-run labor camps are located. And, having become used to something better than the wretched "accommodation" formerly accorded them, the laborers may be unwilling, after the war, to accept foul shacks to live in again. But it may also turn out that the farmers themselves, having found something better than the uncertain and often inefficient labor supply of past seasons, will want to keep the labor-camp system. It works both ways. Better conditions, better workers. And a sure labor supply. Now is the time, therefore, for the farmers in regions such as the Eastern Shore whose highly perishable crops are dependent upon migrants, to plan for permanent work camps. It will be an important step toward a permanent solution of their problem. Mr. J. H. WOOD: ELM BROOK FARM, Morton, N. Y., November 23, 1942. DEAR SIR: In regards to a camp at Hamlin Beach Park, believe it was a great help to farmers. In my case would have lost one-half my tomato crop if I could not have gotten the four boys I did. They were more dependable than what few transients came along. We are too far from Rochester to go in for help, and Hamlin Park suits us finely I think. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches, and apples are grown quite extensively, and plenty of help is needed at the right time. Trusting you will consider us favorably when making out your list of camps, I am SIDNEY G. STRASENBURGH. Sincerely yours, [Telegram] WOODBURY, N. J., January 19, 1943. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE CLAUDE R. WICKARD: In view of increased production goals, shelter, and transportation of farm workers necessary for planting and harvesting of crops, urge support of farm labor transportation and housing program for agricultural workers. Prompt action absolutely necessary. WILLARD B. KILLE, Chairman, Gloucester County Farm Labor Committee. [Telegram] Hon. CLAUDE R. WICKARD, BRIDGETON, N. J., January 18, 1943. United States Department of Agriculture: Government has asked for increased production of processed vegetables in 1943. There is an acute shortage of agricultural and canning workers, also housing of same in this area, and it is extremely essential that Farm Security Administration be provided with necessary funds to carry on their good work of establishing migratory labor camps in the needed communities; also favor the transportation plan as now in operation. NEW JERSEY CANNERS ASSOCIATION, NEWLIN B. WATSON, Secretary. Mr. J. H. WOOD, SEABROOK FARMS INVESTORS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, INC. Bridgeton, N. J., November 19, 1942. Regional Director, Farm Security Administration, Region 1, Upper Darby, Pa. DEAR MR. WOOD: During 1942 our organization will have grown and processed a total of 50,000,000 pounds, packed weight, of canned, quick-frozen, and dehydrated vegetables in addition to 100,000 bushels of apples. A large portion of this pack has gone directly to the Army, the Navy, and Lend-Lease. During the winter of 1941-42, we were very doubtful of our ability to successfully produce this amount of food because of the impending labor shortage. With the exception of a few acres of lima beans and a small amount of apples, we have been able to harvest and process our entire 1942 crop without loss. The Fram Security Administration's migrant camp has been the biggest single factor in the solution of our labor problems. At the peak of the season this camp housed over 1,000 workers. During the early part of the summer, the majority of these workers were employed by local farmers other than ourselves for the harvesting of asparagus and snap-beans. As the season progressed this work fell off and our work increased. These migrants were, therefore, provided with continuous employment with no slack periods from the end of April until the first of December. The quality of the workers living in your camp was high. We harvested about 50 percent more snap-beans this year, with a slightly smaller force than we had used in previous years. We were able to do this because the migrants that came to your camp were professional bean pickers and were able to pick faster than the type of labor we had employed in previous years. The camp attracted many more than the 1,000 migrants it actually housed. Migrants could start up, from the south with a definite destination in mind and knowing that there would be a place for them to stay when they arrived. Many of these stayed in the camp only a few days and then went to live in the housing facilities that we, and other farmers in this area, provided. In other words, the camp served as a clearing center for migratory labor as well as a housing project. The effect of the camp on the general social conditions in this area was excellent, providing decent housing with suitable sanitary facilities; the venereal-disease clinic has been particularly effective. The Quartermaster Corps have called on us to greatly expand our production for 1943. We feel that the one thing that could interfere with this expansion would be an inadequate supply of labor. There is not any local supply that we can draw on, and the principal drawback to utilizing the sources of labor that we |