DRIFT FROM LAND MUST BE STOPPED

Chronicle (Levin), 27 June 1946, Page 6

DRIFT FROM LAND MUST BE STOPPED

■Press Association

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, June 26. Expressing gravest coucern at tlie drift of population from country to town aud the general growing apathy toward farming, particularly by younger members of our rural communities, a rcmit was passed at" the annual conference of delegates from A. and P. Assoeiations in Wellington today. In its original form the remit askod for the Koyal Agricultural Society to set up a eommittee to investigatc tlie v position but this was withdrawn by tlie mover, Mr. J.. Wylic, Auckland, after general coinment tliat suc.li a task was likely to prove too great for any eommittee. The remit aroused considerable discussion. New angles to the question •were suggested by Mr. L. J. Wild, Feilding, wlio said in his opinion there was no growing apathy toward farming i but d.ol"ess*etf»&iig oue a>ud tliiat the- neod for more men on farms was desirable nbt because of the necessity for maintaining production which could be done in this mechanieal age with fewer men, but to' Veautify the land. Mr. M.- E. Lyons, Christchurch, said the drift of male population was not so mueh a matter of eoncem as tliat of the feniale population. Apparently there was nothing at present to liold girls on farms. He said this sliould be rectilied in some way. The niain point stressed by other speakers was the necessity to encourage young farmers and to create small farms.