MEN ON FARMS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 4, 14 September 1942, Page 5

MEN ON FARMS

STAY PUT IN MEANTIME

PRIMARY PRODUCTION COUN-

GIL'S CIRCULAR

DAIKY FARMERS' DEUATE

The Controller of Primary In-

dustries in a communication to the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company, requested that information by way of circular letters to Primary Production Councils should be read 1 at the

-annual meeting of the company's suppliers. In accordance with this the whole subject was considered at Edgecumbe last Wednesday, when the chairman, Mr W. A. McCracken, pointed out that from all indications the Council had been resurrected and given new powers, and would 1 now probably become an

extremely useful organisation for the conservation of manpower on the land.

In stating the position regarding the farmer or farm employee win liacl been called up for military service and passed medically lit, tin Minister of National Scrvice (Mi Broadfoot) said that these men wen to say in their occupations pending a complete examination of the position generally. Accordingly, if ai: appeal had not already been lodged, any person or persons affectec should without delay place the position before the local appeal board which would ta'lie steps to arrange a postponement in the meantime. "Arrangements have also been made for the primary production councils to lodge appeals on the ground of public interest with the ■appropriate appeal board. ft i> • quite possible that some of the men -concerned have insufficient experience to justify their retention on ■the farm or the production of the farm on which they are 'employed may be 'insufficient to warrant the retention of an experienced man. In such a case it is proposed. that the man concerned would be transferred to another or more highly productive farm where his services would be more useful to the nation." Duties of Councils The duties of councils were set out to include the disposition of labour, including land girls, organised to assist in various classes of farm work and the greatest use should be made of student, labour during holidays. The organising of seasonal labour such as shearing and. harvesting and if necessary the zoning and ■ spreading of the machinery available. The supervision of farms of soldiers overseas was another duty which councils would be called upon to shoulder and now that finance was available, they would be en-

■couraged to tackle this work. Eggs and Poultry It was also proposed to appeal to farmers wives to increase to the utmost the number of poultry in tlieir yards. Through circumstances beyond the control of the Department the drive for increased, egg production which took p]a?e two years ago failed because of the low prices ruling in the flush of the season, and the shortage of suitable. feed supplies. Every effort would be made to prevent this occurring again. The summer price for eggs had; been fixed at 1/6 (South land( and 1/8 (North Island) wholesale in all egg-marketing areas. Secretary-Organiser Appointed Mr McCracken stated that the Eastern Bay of Plenty Council had taken steps to appoint a secretaryorganiser Avho would work in the Whakatane and Ojiotiki Counties with a view to assisting the labour problem. It Avas important to have all the requisite manpoAver to groAV an increased, maize crop and to extend the production of pig meats and dairy products, as Ncav Zealand was now expected to supply the Pacific Avar zone. That. Avas Avhy it was the council's first job to see that all essential labour Avas available., Releasing Men From Camp Mr Mullins pointed out that though it Avas how possible for farmers to nominate men in camp for release, there Avere those Avho did not know of any men in that position and Avere therefore no better off. If more experienced men Avere 'known of their names should be sent forward. (Continued in next column)

Labour for Maize Plucking Mr E. Haultain spoke of the difficulty experienced in maize harvesting, pointing out that last year some farmers had to pay as much as per acre to have their crops plucked. It was impossible to grow the maize if such a price was demanded, and he asked if a reasonable basis could not be arrived at and the pnice fixed.

The chairman said, he understood that the pricc had been fixed with the Native Department. It was however a problem which would have to be considered by the council.

Cr C. R. Wilson suggested that a satisfactory basis might be arrived at in collaboration Avith the recently constituted Native War Council.

Mr McCracken rejoined, that it would be the council's duty to foster maize groAving in any case and as it stood iioav there Averc large areas available and not sufficient manpower to Avork them.