FOOD PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 285, 1 September 1942, Page 3

FOOD PRODUCTION

Suggested Use Of Italian Prisoners

VEGETABLE GROWING Dominion Special Sekvice. AUCKLAND, August 31

The suggestion that Italian prisoners of war should be brought to New Zealand to augment manpower for the production of urgently-needed foodstuffs, particularly vegetables, for our armed forces and those of our Allies operating from the Dominion, was made to a meeting of Auckland vegetable-growers by Mr. B. V. Cooksley, representing the Minister for Primary Production for War Purposes, Mr. Polson.

Mr. Cooksley, who is president of the New Zealand Federation of Market Gardeners, and who has been with the armed forces in Wellington, was a few days ago called in to act as liaison officer between the Minister and the primary producers and commercial vegetable growers. He explained to the meeting of commercial gardeners, which was called as a matter of urgency, that the situation was regarded as demanding urgent action. Orders were being received for certain vegetables and foodstuffs for army purposes which were described as "stupendous,” and it was generally recognized that manpower was the main factor in organizing to supply these requirements.

In this respect, Mr. Cooksley said, it was understood that numbers of Italian prisoners of war had been taken.to Australia, where they were being employed in this way, while it was well known that our own men were being similarly employed in Germany. There did not seem to be any reason why these men should not also be brought here for this purpose. It should be borne in mind that after the war such men automatically would be repatriated to their own country.

One of the main purposes of the meeting, he said, wms to set up a committee representing the commercial vegetable growers and to co-operate with the Primary Production Councils on which bodies they would have representation.

Arrangements were being made io can large quantities of tomatoes.-and other vegetables for the use of troops, and it was part of his job to visit every canning factory in Auckland and in New Zealand to see that their entire capacity was available. Various problems Were fully discussed by the growers present, and a committee of six was set up, as suggested. A resolution was adopted assuring tlie Minister of the full, support of the grow'ers, and expressing every confidence in Mr. Cooksley as liaisou officer.