A NATION FIGHTS UPON ITS STOMACH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 215, 20 September 1940, Page 4

A NATION FIGHTS UPON ITS STOMACH

PRODUCE FOR VICTORY! How often has the appeal to farmers been made through radio, press and literature. England is fighting for her own life; England is engaged in a life and death struggle. Our duty on the other side of the world is to produce the foodstuffs which will hearten and sustain her fighting men, and help maintain the morale of her civilian population. New Zealand with her favoured climate is called upon to fall in line with other parts of the Empire and as far as it is. humanly possible for her to do so, can be relied upon to do her part. Unfortunately as the Chairman of the Whakatane County Council pointed out in a recent address, the labour problem on farms was already acute, but the outlook is even more depressing. In spite of the greatest will in the world, of the farmer to produce more in the interests of the country's war effort, he is unable to do so. Labour is at a premium already and the only alternative as the speaker said was the married man who was not likely to be included in the ballot for military service. If it is still so urgent to boom production here is the very heart of the matter crippled from the start through laqk of neaessary labour. Here is a problem which in every essential should be grappled with now before the flush of the season spells new difficulties for the already sorely tried primary producer. The Public Works Department promised in the first instance that all representations from Primary Production Councils would meet with immediate consideration. The drain of man-power has however resulted in htis source of supply being dried up. Farmers have ciome to a slow realisation that land wrkers are practically noniexisitant. The most; reasonable alternative is the forceful introduction of "A Women's Land Army" such as has long been in force in beleaguered England itself. Thousands of strong, healthy young English girls are today labouring happily in the fields, attending to the herds, cultivating the crops which will enable the British peoples to fight on to certain victory. Why not in New Zealand? Already the fabric of such a scheme has been created but the time for its active application is at hand. Lists of suitable workers, rates and conditions of awards, bureaux of administration, and placement—these are the points which are required before the season gains momentum and at its * height finds the harassed agriculturalist unable to cope with the work with his limited labour supply. A New Zealand women's land army could achieve all that Its sister body in the Old Gountry is doing, possibly far more.