RURAL WORKERS AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3097, 30 May 1917, Page 8

RURAL WORKERS AND THE WAR

. o J:'ARMEES' VIEAYS. By Tolcgnph—Special Uepurtor. Marton, May ,'iO. The position of essential rural workers in relation to tho military ballots was considered by the AYellington Conference of (ho Farmers' Uuion here to-day. Mr. A. Kobinson, Wanganui, moved tli.it it should be a recommendation to the National Efficiency Board that in all cases of appeals of slaughtermen a trustee board report be obtained for presentation to thft Military Servico Board before a decision is arrived at.

Mr. Marshall said it was rather suspected flint in the casoe of some unions which were very well organised men irho could be sent to the front were retained because of the influence exercised by the unions. Shearers and slaughtermen were retained, but many slaughtermen could be replaced by men not fit to go to the front. During tho. 1913 strike that was done. The same thing could be applied to shearing. ,To make a very successful shearer required years of practice, but to make a shearer did not require such an extensive practical acquaintance with the work as was thought. A plan similar to that sHjwestcd in the motion would be in the interests of the country. The need was men.

Mr. .7. Balcillie, Palmerston North, seconded the motion.

Mr. H. A. Nevins,)Tinni, supported the motion. Every exemption granted -the unions mentioned strengthened them, lie said, and other men had to join tho orsnnisations for their own protection. He knew of a man who had said he was a pro-Gorman to the backbone getting exemption on the application of the union. Another man who had been organising for the union for five years, and not working as a ehearer, was exempted a.? an essential worker. The motion was carried. Mr. G. L. Marshall then mov*d: "That this conference, realising that the prosperity of the country depends upon the maintenance of production, is stronply <tf opinion that the policy of the Military Service Boards should be to exempt where possible genuine ploughmen and eheplierds until the sowing- and lambing season is over, it beinj impossible for one ninn. evp'i mi a small farm, to work s> team and attend to tho ewe flock also." Mr. Marshall said that if the authorities could possibly exempt these men without interfering with the reinforcements it should' bo done. If they could secure a few months' exemption there would not, he thought, be much reduction in tho production, of this coast.

Mr. A, Pryde, Nireaha, considered that (he motion conflicted with the foregoing resolution. Why Tiot place them all on tho oue footing? he asked. Mr. S.vkes, M.P., Masttcrton. said 'the Minister of Agriculture had told Mnstevton farme-TS !ib would uso his influence with tlio'Minister of Defence tn get genuine ploughmen exempted. Sirico then seroral ploughmen had let before Military Service Boards, and they had been exempted. This motion too was carried.