Call For Labour For Fertiliser Works

Chronicle (Levin), 5 September 1947, Page 7

Call For Labour For Fertiliser Works

Press Associatio~i)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Sept. 4. ' "We have been getting on with the job as quiekly as humaiily possible," said Mr. E. P. Walsh, chairman of the permanent Aid For Britain Committee tonight when aslced what progress had beeji iuade during tlie week in conneetion with the Aid For Britain campaign. Alr. Walsh said he had met various interests himself during the week, sui;h as representatives of the motion picture industry and representatives of potato merchants and growers. In each case discussions had taken place bearing on publicity associated with the new eampaign as well as on new production targets for which arrangements were at present being made. The two principal meetings during the week were associated with the fertiliser industry and the main publicity organisation for the eampaign. Yesterday afternoon representatives of the superphosphate manufacturers and workers in the industry, together with officers of'the Department of Agriculture, met a special subcommittee consisting of Messrs H. E. Blyde (vicepresident of Federated Farmers) and hL. G. Kilpatrick (national president of tne freezing wbrlcers orgauisation) of the main committee, together with Alr. \V. Horrobin of the Wool Board, who was coopted for the purpose. ' '' It is realised it will be vital to the success of the higber farm production drive this season, for fertilisers to be uvailable in adequate quantities as well as promptly delivered in the next few months, "csaid Mr. Walsh, "The suDcommittee exhaustively examined the problems at present facing the industry and recomnieudations had been prepared for tlie Aid For Britain Committee at its meeting on Tuesday. Already as the result of tlie meeting, the Secretary of Labour has agreed to issue an appeal for 2t> workers for the superphosphate w6rls in Auckland, and eight t'or one ot the Dunedin works to enable additionai deliveries to be etfected during the next two montlis. At least certain other labour requirements for other 1 works are expeeted to be made known I in a few'days. The Labour Department j has promised l'ull cooperation in securing the immediate needs of the indus j trv. It is expeeted also that a reconv mendation will be made by the 111am 1 committee allowing farmers to eart t'erj tilisers and linie for iieiglibours. 111 laddition the sub-comniittee discussed j problems concerniiig lime" distribution. I Furlher discussions are to take place on | this next week. Publicity Drive. t "Sinee the meeting ot the Aid F0.1 j Britain Coinmi.t tee ■ last week, the Gov- ! eniment has approved the eommittee's i recoinmendation in regard to an over | ill publicity orgauisation for, the cum j paign and invitatioiis were issued tlur j ing the week to representatives of some ! Iwolve non-Goverimient organisations j iiid a similar number of Governmem I ■le-'artnients concerned with publicity and advertising. Tlie iuitiai meeting j was hold this morning. Among the j non-Goveriiment organisations repreIsented were. the Women 's Division ot 'Federated Farmers, Women 's lnstitutes. iXewspapers Proprietors ' Association, ; N.Z. Journalists Association, Ataster iPrinters' Association, Motion Pictures ; Exliibitors and Distributors, the Intercluireh t'ouncil, the Junior Chamber ot Commerce. Mr. R. >S. Odell, inforntaJ tion ofticer, Prime Minister's Depart-

ment, wTas chairman of the meeting. "J am advised that a full examination. was made of all problems associated with the increased publicity drive which is imminent. A fulltime secretary lia» been appointed for the' purposes of the eommittee's work. '•'In addition to the appointment 01 an execntive to deal with more detaiied day to day matters relating to various aspects of publicity, special committees were appointed to report baek to the full committee at its next meeting on speciiic publicity drives and on certain general questions relating to the eommittee's work. One of the sub-commit-tee's was of the four women representatives who are to report to the next meeting on means of disseminating mformation to the women af the Domiuion by way of talks to women 's organisations and any other ways considerea appropriate. Maize Production. "I would , like to report progress which has been made in regard to Ihe maize production drive 011 the Lasi Coast. In addition to the work o± Agricultural Department officers in tlie area, three officers of the Native Department have been detaiied speciaJly for immediate work in the East Coast area with the object of increasiiig the icreage of maize sown in the district by the Maoris this year. 1 have been in touch with Bir Apirana Ngata by telephone in eonnection with this niatter and he assures me his. people 011 tlie East Coast will do their utrnost to mcrease the maize and kumera production. More Potatoes. "Yesterday I addressed a eonferenee of growers of potatoes and merchants, At this meeting a unanimous resolution was carried in which they pledgeo ihemselves to assist in a eampaign t'01 the sowing of -5, ()()() acres of potatoes Depaj-tment of Agriculture officers pre sent advised that they would do every thing possible to see that sufficient seed potatoes were available to growers aml to home gardeners. "