MUST NOT RECUR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 137, 4 August 1941, Page 5

MUST NOT RECUR

PROTECTION OF SOLDIERS' FARMS ■ i DUTY OF FARMERS'- UNION "I remember in the last war two young farmers were called! up. They were 'fair dinlcum' NeW Zealanders too—they didn't appeal, but sold' their farms at £30 ' per acre. When they came back ; they had to pay the man £60 ! per acre to get it back. We don't want that sort of thing to hiap-t pen during 1 this war," said 1 Mr Poole at the Farmers" Union meeting on Thursday. "Unless the Union moves farms will J 'hooked' onto by 'vultures." Its up to us to protect such men stos that they have something to which) to come back." Mr Poole continued that the Gov-* crnment should be asked to take steps to protect farms for men who are going away and the Union vhould arrange how the farms werf* to he looked after. The area officer, Mr F. E. Carter, remarked that the time was such that all branches should have strong Executive committees so that if re-» quired farms could be supervised. Several Local Cases Mr R. Dunning stated that several cases had occurred in the Whaka* tane district where men liad gonsj cverseas, but they had made their Dwn arrangements and he did no! feel that members should "butt in. 1 * He suggested that the Union however, advertise the fact that it Vvas prepared to help and advise in such cases. The matter was very; fully dis* cussed a suggestion from Mr JMullins being that farmers should plso be included in the legislation providing that returned men had employment for six months after the cessation of hostilities. Mr Harison and others felt thai to undertake the management of farms would probably be beyond the Union as the labour position was so 6ad. Taneatua Example That the business man was left jut was the opinion of Mir Moffat. The wage earner had the guarantee of emplojonent , when he ro'turned but the businessman and the farmer ivcre not provided for. Tlie question needed a great amount of consideration. "This war is going to 'get' the 'imall businessman and the farmer,' he concluded. ... Mr Foole asked the members to-do what they could and gave an example where at Taneatua five married men had been examined .< Two had been turned down and the system was that these men would pool the cows, milking on one farm and grazing the dry stock on the absentees pastures. The farms would tie inspected and supervised by older men.' "That is one way out and we must sacrifice something," he said. It was decided to make the fullest investigation of possibilities and each locality to offer to assist as fat as it possiblyi could.