NEW ZEALAND NOT PULLING ITS WEIGHT

Chronicle (Levin), 13 May 1946, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NOT PULLING ITS WEIGHT

AUCKI.AND, May 12. An assurance that the world shortage , of food was really grave and would re- f main so for at least two or three j'ears, was given by the Prime Minister, llon. P. Fraser, to a deputation that waited on him on Saturday morning to discuss the sending of more food from New Zealand to the aid of Britain. The deputation was rcpresentative of the Farmers' J ITnion, Returned Bervices' Association, ! -Second N.Z.E.F. Association, and ; churches, and it was headed by the j President of the Auckland Province ot | the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Mr. ■ II. it. Rushworth. Mr. Rushworth said New Zealand waS not pulling its weight. If the farmers, Federation of Labour, and Chamber of Commerce, could get together and hammer out a scheme, woukl the Government be willing to give it sympathetic j consideration'? ifr. Fraser: Certainly. Jle said the whole problem had been receiving the ; attention of thA Mihister of Agriculture ' and he wanted the deptitatiou to give I him proposals for increasing the production of grain. He mentioned that wheat of excellent inilling qualitv had recentlv | been growii-'in- th.e Rftngitikei area ftnd 1 said he would be glad to receive any constructive suggestions. A resolution adopted by the Waiuku ' R.8.A. expressing disgust at the aetton of those Avho held up food ships at a time when millions were starving, was j read by Mr. H. B." Ivean, of Waiuku, who also made complaint at the un- i necessary delays in settling returnea men on farms, thereby holding up pro- ! due tion. j The Prime Minister asked for speoific ' instances of such delays and promised that if any means could he fotmd for speeding up procedure, it would be taken. The Prime Minister said that person- j ally he would very much like to see | something done. Various sections ot the eommunity recriminating against each other was 110 good at all. Workers' unions, farmers' union, transport wot'Kers and waterside workers, should be m- I vited to confer and he would be pleased to convey to them his wish that they should 'cooperate to the fullest extent."