FULL CO-OPERATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20042, 14 September 1939, Page 9

FULL CO-OPERATION

WAR WITH GERMANY STATE ACTION ENDORSED WAIROA COUNTY COUNCIL (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. “That the Acting Prime Minister be advised that the Wairoa County Council unanimously endorsed the action of the New Zealand Government in jbining with Great Britain and France in declaring war against Germany in order to free Europe from the forces of Nazism and aggression and resolves to co-operate to the fullest extent with the Government and give every support to all measures it may consider necessary to take during the period of the war to bring it to a successful conclusion.” .This was the text of a motion which was carriet. unanimously at the monthly meeting of the council yesterday.. “I think the Government is to be congratulated on the steps it has taken in declaring war on Germany,” stated Cr. J. O'Grady. Cr. W. Tait said that he supported the Government’s, action,, but what he objected to was the number of young men working on the public works who were on the roads leaning on their shovels, and who were not likely to enlist for the front. He was of opinion that the attention Of the Minister of Public Works should be drawn fo the matter. Position on the Farms The chairman, Cr. A. T. Carroll, pointed out that the cream of the farmers were volunteering for active service and their loss would leave huge gaps in farm production. He thought that some labour movement should be fbrrned by the Government to insure that production would be carried on.

He expressed the opinion that as many Maoris as possible should be held back from enlisting for the purpose of looking after the farmers’ requirements. Work such as shearing and fencing was vital. Cr H. Bayly stated that he thought it was essential that the greatest contribution New Zealand could make towards the defence of the Empire was to increase production. "The few men we send abroad are but a drop in the ocean,” he added.

Cr. Bayly contended that the Government should classify farming as an essential industry.

“If production goes down,” he concluded, “it will be a serious thing for the Old Country."

Cr. O’Grady said that it was j.oo .early yet to decide whether enlistment should be voluntary or conscription, but he thought the farmers should put up with a little inconvenience.

The view that he would like to see the young men thev had broken into farming kept on the farm, was expressed by Cr. S. Bruce.

Tiie discussion then concluded,