Absent Soldiers' Farms

Levin Daily Chronicle, 13 March 1917, Page 3

Absent Soldiers' Farms

« AND BOARDS OF CONTROL.

ADIDRiESS AT LEVIN BY MR W. H. FtlliLD, M. P. Horo.vh I'liua C':. unty Council, at its meeting cn Saturday Inst, was waited upon by Mr W. 11. Field, M.P. for this electorate, in regard to the need for protecting the interests of farmer soldiers absent from New Zealand on active service.

Mr Field said he wished to speak 011 the proposal to set up boards of trustees to manage the farms of soldiers absent at the front. The board of control was formed of practical farmers, this district being represented by Mr Thomas Moss, chairman of the provincial branch of the New Zealand Fanners' Union. Mr Field outlined the scheme for administration of absent soldiers' farms by competent trustees to be appointed by the Government on the recommendation of the National Efficiency Board.

Mr Moss had written to Mr Field on the matter suggesting the holding of meetings of farmers to consider the ..matter generally; also giving details of districts in which centres would be established. Levin was one of these. "

Mr Field, addressing the council, said he was afraid that when unhappily it came to the calling up of the Second Division for Defence a very serious position would be reached; it was serious already. We all were in hopes,' of course, that the end of the ' war would come before this year; but we had been disappointed before, and we might be again. Therefore it behoved us to prepare against aillt possibility, and endeavors should be made to set up these boards. He had come to the County Council as representatives of the farmers of this county. It was quite plain that- if tlve war lasted for a year or. years the present guarantee of men would have to be reduced by New Zealand, but we must continue to do our best, and therefore to do all we could to see to the farms. It was no good to send more men to the front that we could keep going, and also keep the empire going so far as food supply was concerned. He regretted that some people in authority did not realize the full need' for keeping the farms going ; one man high in authority had told him that he did not see why the dairy farms could not be converted into runs, and the. men thus set free for service. There was, quite apart from the empire's need for food supplies, the danger that land aggregation would take placo unless somo such control of absent farmers' properties as the board suggested were given effect to. 'He had been asked to call a meeting of farmers and all others interested in this great work; meanwhile he wished the council to give him assistance in deciding upon the personnel of three practical men to undertake l the duties for this district. He proposed to call a meeting at Levin—as being the most central place for some day this week. In this time of national crisis he would like the council, to pass a resolution on the matter, and also to participate in the meeting to be held this week. Ho had already communjicated with Mr Kebbell and Mr J. Prouse on the imatter, and they were prepared to act.

The county chairman asked Mr Field which day would suit him. . Mr Field said that for so important a matter any day would suit him. M'r Kebbell said that seeing the proposed district would extend from Toikomaru to the south of the county it wmtld be well to hold the meeting in the day time.

Mr Stephenson agreed; a meeting held at night would be only n local affair.

The chairman suggested that Friday next, 17th" March, at 11 a.m., might be a suitable time. This day (with Thursday as a possible date, 'if Friday prove unsuitable to Mr Moss) was agreed upon, and it was l-esolved that the meeting be jointly convened by Mr Field, M.P., and Mr Monk, County Council chairman. Councillor Catley moved and Councillor Monk seconded the • following motion: That this council is entirely in sympathy with the association and Objects of the Government in setting up an 'Efficiency Board and Ix>cal Board of Trustees for the purpose of

I supervising the farms of men called' j up for active service. This was carried. In thanking Mr Field for his address, the chairman of /the recalled that two years ago Mr Field had recommended the Government to move in this matter. Mr iMonk added that the Government should endeavor to secure such supervision of farms that those who went away and were fortunate enough to come back would have their farms handed back to them in as good condition as they were at present. This might not be hard in regard to farms in settled districts, but in respect to swamp and rough lands the task would be harder, and the supervision of really practical men would be necessary