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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 241, 22 November 1940, Page 4

REVIEWING the recent sitting of the Manpower Committee and the findings thereof, we are forced to the conclusion that the correct attitude was employed in dealing sympathetically with primary producers and further that of the thirty-five farmers who appealed not one expressed open resentment or hostility towards military training, but on the contrary were willing and eager to co-operate, providing they were given reasonable opportunity to carry out their seasonal work. The surprising feature was the manner in which both parties got together for the purpose of working out a scheme which would make for mutual satisfaction. Practically every appellant realised the necessity for training men against the possibilities of war and in numerous cases were willing to make considerable sacrifices to enable their employees to attend aamp. It would be safe to say that many a worried farmer left the Courthouse, in more settled frame of mind than he had enjoyed for months. If this attitude is general, then we can take it tha,t farmers as a class are living up to their traditional loyalty, and as in the last war can be depended upon to do their bit towards sparing men for mililtary training, and at the same time to increase their acreage for maize and other crops. There are few other sections of the community who are applying themselves so readily to the war effort, for the additional burdens have of necessity increased the working hours far beyond those of normal years. This in itself is something to be proud of in these days of applied unionism and the jealously guarded 40 hour week. When such a gesture is forthcoming from the hardest-worked section of the community it is' only right that the Government should be expected to grant every possible facility for assisting towards the greater production of primary produce., which is already in such excellent hands..