AIDING BRITAIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 86, 30 September 1947, Page 5

AIDING BRITAIN

AWAKERI MEETING FULL SUPPORT PLEDGED Close on fifty representatives • of district primary producing interests met in the Awakeri Hall on Thursday night and pledged themselves to do all in their power during this and future seasons to augment production and to aid Britain in her present economic emergency. Added weight was packed into the meeting’s formal resolution when the principal speaker, Mr H. E. Blyde, vice-president of Federated Farmers and member, of the National Aid to Britain Committee, warned, before the motion was put, that he did not seek a merely pious expression of hope nor an empty promise of co-operation.

“Please don’t vote for this resolution,” he pleaded, “unless you mean just what you say.” ' On those terms, the meeting made its pledge unanimously. Mr Boulcott was in the chair, and asociated with Mr Blyde were Messrs. V. Hall, secretary New Zealand Maize Marketing Committee, member of the National Committee for Aid to Britain and member of the Dairy Commission, R. G. C. Ffitch, Produce Department Internal Marketing Division and C. Tietjent, producers’ representative to N.Z. Maize Marketing Committee, Gisborne area. Serious Economic Position After the official party had been introduced by the chairman Mr Blyde addressed the meeting. He stressed the seriousness of Bri-

tain’s crisis and mentioned that there was a feeling of comparative security in the Dominion. Contracts for the supply of products were in force as were prices for the produce for some years to come. Were Britain to fail however these would not be worth the paper they were written on.

In order to see what could be done to aid the Mother Country a conference had been called last month and over 180 different organisations were represented. The speaker had never been to a more representative meeting or to one at which the same unity .of purpose ■was evident. It was made clear that the farmers would do their utmost but that they needed the complete co-opera-tion of every other section of the community. As the outcome of the conference a permanent National Council had been set up. Offers of extra work had been given by many bodies. Some were willing to do five hours on Saturdays and extra work had been promised, on the wharves, fertiliser works and other industries.

The council aimed at eliminating bottlenecks in industry which could and have hindered production.

The Federated Farmers were pledged to organise the farming community and would endeavour to contact every farmer personally to 'find what could be done to get extra production. The speaker went on to mention some of the problems at present being tackled such as the machinery, fertiliser, farm labour and rural housing aspects. The idea was to prepare a plan to set before the Government on ways of overcoming various difficulties. Maize Production

His main object was to see what could be done in the way of extra maize production. Right up the coast there had been a splendid response. If the crop could not be grown commercially farmers were asked to at least grow enough for their own pigs and poultry, perhaps in an odd corner which needed turning. Food Parcels Mr Blyde commented on the food parcel scheme and stated that while ihese were of great value to the people of Britain bulk food was what was required to do any appreciable amount of good. Again stressing how important it was that everyone should do his utmost said that the fact that someone

was not doing his job should not stop another person from doing his. The issues at stake were too vital for that.

Though a small country New Zealand could play a vital part in Britain’s recovery and the work done voluntarily by the individual was what would count most. Questions And Answers

Discussion, questions and criticism were asked for and the members of the audience brought up many issues which were fully dealt with. One farmer asked why, when his maize was ready for shelling he could not obtain a permit. Mr Ffitch stated that no permit was required. The policy of the committee had always been to do everything possible to facilitate delivery of maize from growers and assured all growers that they would have no difficulty whatever in disposing of maize through mercantile firms if it was ready and fit for shelling. Arrangements had been made with firms to take delivery immediately it was ready. He added that even if 20,000 bags were available delivery could be arranged. The 18d subsidy was being continued on all maize sold under authority of the maize marketing com-mittee-up to the end of June 1949. Decent Seed Available Mr Blyde said that the Department of Agriculture realised that some of the seed sold last year was of poor quality but would guarantee every grain for the coming season. Forty Hour Week “Would it not be better in the interests of the campaign if the 40hour week was at least temporarily suspended,” asked a member of the audience of Mr Blyde. His reply was in the negative. No one had been asked to do this directly. What was wanted was a spontaneous effort which would probably mean an extension of the working hours. Force was not wanted as if the 44-hour week were reinutroduced it would have unpleasant repercussions in some places and the result would be that the workers would do no more in a 44hour week than in their normal 40 hours. If sections of the community willingly caused bottlenecks in industry then was the time for straight talking. Subsidy Removal Questioned regarding the removal of subsidies Mr Blyde said that these would be fully covered in the new prices and farmers could rest assured that they would lose nothing by the removal. Manure Subsidy The position had been thoroughly examined before the subsidy was lifted from manure said Mr Blyde. At first his idea was the same as the questioner’s. He thought that the second and third class country would suffer but this was not so. Most of the manure went on to first class land so that the man on lower grade country was actually paying the subsidy on the first class farmer’s manure. It was better for a man on the land to receive the money direct to use as he saw fit. Cancellation of orders came in for a start but these almost stopped. There was no shortage of orders. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the speakers.