MANAWATU FARMERS MOBILISE

Chronicle (Levin), 2 October 1947, Page 5

MANAWATU FARMERS MOBILISE

MACHINERY IN MOTION FOR AID TO BRITAIN A speeial meeting of Federated Farmers in the Manawatu district yesterday ' dccided to uiobilise its forces in an allout attempt to senil food production rocketing as its part of the Aid to Brit- 1 ain scheme. The meeting. was enthusi- 1 astic and a provincial committee was set up to haiulle the organisation in the district. The ehairman, Mr. H. J. MeLeavey, told the meeting that although part of the committee 's work wduld be to overcoiue the difiiculties iiresented by sliortages of niaterial he coifsidered that those problems should not be discussecl by the present meeting. When tne organisation had been fully set in niotion the problems of the farmers could be smoothed out by a generai survey of the industry in the district. The prime motive of the meeting was to ser up the organisation. He intiinated that a committee would be set up by the provincial executive and this would deal with the problems of the farmer as subniitted by speeial fact-linding cominittees appointed by eacli branch. The provincial committee would forward the problems to the natioiial Aid to Britain Committee of the federation for action. Eacli farmer would Iie asked by branches to state by how niuch lie tliought he could increase production and what obstacles would need to be eliminated before liis farm could go into full production. By this means it was lioped to increase the output of foodstuffs for export to England. The committee appointed by the meeting comprised: The provincial president, -Mr. II. J. -MeLeavey (Oliauj, the two vice-presidents, JMessrs V. J. Cottle (Otaki) and^D. B. Rowe (Rongotea,), cliairnien of the Meat and Dairy sections, Messrs R. Craig (Kanson) and T. M. Ryder (Tokomaru), with power to add. The greatest obstaele in the wav of the farmer in making a supreme eft'orr was. tiie 40-hour week, said Mr. L. Wilton. It was through the shortening of generai working hours that farmers had had to alter their farm economy to a considerable extent. In fact, if production had receded at all the reason could be found in the 40-hour week. The wur had been fought on these short working hours. He tliought the greatest lead in the Food for Britain campaign should eoine from the Government in aliolishing tiie 40-hour week and reverting to the former 48 hours. The efiiciencv of labour had lieen diminished by one unit in six by the institurioii of the hour cut. The country liad reverted btick to the slump days but on a different angle. Where, formerly, there was an ample supply of goods and no money, at the present time there was plenty of money but no goods. If the Government would revert to the 48-hour week the nation 's production and exports would be greatly stepped np. Mr. Cottle said he tliought the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nasli, could do a great doal in the drive for Britain. Farmers had stated their unwillingness to increase their output any more than it was already because they would be penalised by tax. If farmers were not sickened by constant paying of heavy taxation on their products they would find some ineentive to increase production. "We've listened to liis budget and know we get verv little tax relief, " he said. "If we have the assurance of Jlr. Xash that extra production will be taxed on the lower scale instead of the top scale I am sure production will increase by leaps and bounds." Quoting the words of the late Mr. M. J. Kavage, "Where Britain goes, we go," Mr. D. B. Rowe affirmed that if Britain went down so wuuld New Zealand. The Dominion must not fall down on the job. Britain was in dire straits and had the right to expect every pos sible effort from New Zealand. It was deeided to telegraph the Aid to Britain Couneil in Wellington asking that a eable be sent to Britain 's Prime Minister, Mr. C. R. Attlee, requesting that priority be given to the production of wire. The vote was unanimous. A suggestion that proviqcial liaison officers be appointed throughout New Zealand to assist farmers in securing inaterials without. the neeessity of leaving their farms was agreed upon and forwarded to the head ofiice of the federation.