EFFICIENCY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3025, 12 March 1917, Page 8

EFFICIENCY

. MEETINGS OF SOUTHERN FARMERS • MANAGEMENT OF SOLDIERS' ' , FARMS • 'At a largely attended meeting of at Claodeboye (Canterbury) on ; /Jhursday to _i_cus_ tho requirements :' fof the National-Efficiency Board, it was ' tHgreed, after considerable discussion:— , (1) That the Temuka Committeo to !- ibe formed bo respectfully asked to icompilo a list oj landowners who. will give or lot land for cropping; that ! application be received from men, |. {singly, in partnership, or In syndicates, who will undertake to crop their land, Alio Government supplying tho seed, [which is to bo returned later; that a list of men and implements • bo compiled showing what Implements may bo borrowed or hired by the wheat Icropper... \ (9) To prevent liigli prices, scarcity, •ftnd perliapa famine, tho attention of ?lhe Government be called to Mr. Anjstey's figuros showing that larger quotas aro boing taken from agricultural districts than from city areas; and, further, that -workers belonging to tho primary food industries shall not be\sent away until jockeys, trainers, ibookmakers, pioturo palaco nnd theatrijcal staffs, lawyers, land, commission, land other agent/ and all non-producers be-forwaidcd to tho front.

(3) Recognising the Govornnieiit'Jailuro to deal in a business-likV way ■with military hospital troubles, wheat importations, etc., meat and wool purchases, especially dairy produce pur'chases, this v meoting :s gratified at the appointment of an Efficiency Board, and congratulates the Government on recognising that business men, not politician-, are needed when a crisis arrives. It -would urge- tho Government to go a step furtlwr, call Parliament together, recall the Hon. W. F. Massey Snd Sir Joseph Ward, and put the management of the country's "affaire during Svar time in business hands.

At the Geraldine meeting on Wednesday tho following proposals were ,R_opted:— (1) That the National Efficiency Hoard ask for v'bluntetjrs-to enable tho Oommissioner te select throe gentlemen as a, committeo of advice for the Geraldine district, for the purpose of Assisting him in carrying out tho Gov--nunent scheme for the management of «bl_iers' farms.

• (3) That from, the. mfber\of vouir/Sfceers the board select five other names (which wonld constitute the first Board »of Trustees for tho Geraldino district, JBubject at all iimes to—(a) that tho Board might add any name ■or names to tho list of volunteers, (b) "that tho soldier should have a tight tto object to any momber of a board of .trustees for the management of his farm, tho board of trustees in every case to be approved by the National {Efficiency Board. (3) That tho committee of three should be composed of an agricultural £armer,_ a sheep f arw?r, s.nd k business man with a kentledge of farm accounts whenever it is possible so to arrange. !

(■I) That if possible retired-farmers /1\ Ji. 0 Bolcctecl tor tho position. (o) lhat work bo undertakon voluntarily and only out-of-pockot oxP° nse s bo allowed for tho committee. i'j ''"' lat or 'f? na l coramittoo should have power to appoint sub-coni-niittoes when tho number of farms to bo looked aftor becomes ton largo for committee to handle. (7) That tho farms, stock, implements, ote., bo carefully valued by the trustees, with tho aid, of expert valuers if necessary, particular attention being given to tho stato of tho land, fences, buildings, etc., and that the valuations of the different farms, etc., bo in comparison with one another. \' < ) That farms may bo pooled and w'.i:!:';d on a co-operative system, all stock, etc., being pooled. (9) That trustees may refuse to take over a n farm which does not show a souad financial position on their valuation . (1.0) That the Government give every assistance with labour, perhaps by. allotting balloted men who aro retained i 1 for homo service. j _. (11) That a memorandum of stock, implements; clc, be made so that the I farms can lie handed back with as near- ! ly as possible, after allowing for depreciation, the, same number of stock, etc. (12) That accounts be kept, by a qualified accountant appointed by" the National Efficiency Board. (13) 'Jliat with regard to wires and families of men going to the front, provision should bo made for them.