WAR TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 289, 31 March 1941, Page 2

WAR TOPICS

§fDH Bmcott Mr-.r~>>r

FARMING UNIT EXPEDITIONARY FORCE LIKELY NEED IN ENGLAND "Frankly it does not matter if this country goes down so long as the United Kingdom does not. Eventually we will be pulled up," said Mr M. E. Barrowclough at the annual meeting of the M.orrir.sville branch of the Farmers' Union last week, in urging that Farming Unit ol the spcouu New Zealand Expeditionary Force be formed. Mr Barrowclough had expressed concern with the serious position that might arise In England if further restrictions on shipping prevented the despatch from New Zealand of essential piimary products. Jn moving "That this annual meeting of the Morrinsville branch of the Farmers' Union suggests to the Auckland executive the advisability of offering its services in the formation of a farming unit of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force to the New Zealand Government should it be prepared to form, and the Imperial Government to accept, the services of such a unit," Mr Barrowclough emphasised that the schcme should apply only to men over military age. While many members of such a proposed unit might be strangers to farming conditions in the Old Country he felt it could nevertheless render valuable service. Under present conditions importation of foodstuffs into Great Britain was greatly restricted, and he felt that a farming unit could assist by getting on to the land in England. The British farmer, he said, had been the livestock breeder of the world, and he thought it would be a good move to form such a unit and leave it to the British Government whether or not it wished to acccpt the offer. "The New Zealand Forestry and Railways units," said Mr Barrowclough, "have proved very efficient and there is no reason why farming unit should not render like service."

Valuable Service. In seconding the motion, Mr G. Cates remarked that it would be a valuable "way of rendering service to the Old Country. In New Zealand there were 16 r 000 men in stopgap work, and he wondered whether this labour coukl not he transferred to England where, it was required. He believed that England required labour and it seemed 9 good plan to transfer available men to do necessary work there. Mr Barrowclougli: We should send only competent farm labour. Mr W. Taverner: No matter what class of man could be sent his services could be utilised. However. Mr H. J. Valintine pointed out that Ave in New Zealand had to keep lip production, and he considered it the duty of the older men to stop at home and work the. land. "If the time comes when all the younger men on the farms have to go into the firing line, who will look after the stock?" asked Mr A. Topham. He questioned whether there was any shortage of farm labour in England. Shortage of Labour. Mr J. W. Clark: Previous to the outbreak of war there was a great outcry in New Zealand about the shortage here of farm labour, and to suggest sending efficient farmers Home is making a rod for our own backs. Mr Barrowclough made it clear that he was not casting any reflection on the ability of the British farmer, but suggested that if we in New Zealand could send men over military age to the United Kingdom such men might replace younger British men who could be released for the army. We must face the fact, he said, that if there is any dislocation in this country it is a mere bagatelle to dislocation,in England. Mr Valintine: Wouldn't it be better for us to say that we will look after the farms and that we will not appeal on behalf of our younger men. (Continued foot of next coluaili)

Mr Barrowclough: We should offer the British Government a helping hand, and leave it to that Government to say whether it takes it or not. The motion was lost, but later in the evening, during the ordinary monthly meeting, it was decided that it be slightly amended and forwarded to the Aucidand Provincial Conference as a remit.