Farmers and the War

Levin Daily Chronicle, 8 March 1917, Page 3

Farmers and the War

— 6 Timaru, March 4. Mr Frostick, as a member of the Industrial Efficiency Board, addressed a meeting of farmers here yesterday and a general discussion followed. Mr Talbot, chairman of the Farmers' Union of the district, dwelt upon the difficulty caused by the calling up of ploughmen. He said that teams were idle all over the district, and reliable men were not obtainable. Consequently there must be a great shortage of wheat next season.

Mr J. Anstey, M.P. pointed out the discrepancies in making ■up quotas, so that the Canterbury and North Otag'o farming districts had been called on for a larger proportion of men than the cities. Several other speakers agreed, and endorsed Mr Talbot's remarks. A practical suggestion was made by Mr Burbury, who accompanies Mr Frostick; it was that a farmer unable to' follow a team himself could teach another man how to manage one.

The question of financing farms for absent soldiers was also discussed. It was said that firms did not finance farm,; but hard-working farmers, who did not mind how long they worked; The position would be very different wth hired labor under a supervisor and the Government should provide the finance. Mr Frostick said it was the equity in a farm that would secure the financing of the farm. If there was no equity the, farmer should dispose of the farm before leaving. " The result -of the conference was a resolution to ask the county and road board chairmen to call meetings to nominate committee of supervision.