NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1686, 15 March 1917, Page 3

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

KEEPING THE LAND PRODUCTIVE. ADDRESS BY AIR. FIELD, ALP. On behalf of the National Efficiency Board and to assist them in their work of setting up local boards of trustees to watch over Ihe farms of those who are going to the front, Air W. H. Field, AI.P., addressed the Horowhemia County Council at Levin on Saturday last. He pointed out that the volume of our products had been steadily deereasing since tin' beginning of (he war even under the voluntary system, and that under compulsory service of the No. 1 Division it was likely to become very serious, whereas if the Second Division were called up the position might assume alarming proportions unless immediate and effective steps were taken to see that oar lands were properly fanned and made fully productive. Jt was with this view that the National Efficiency Board had been set up, this, being one of the Hrst. steps of an organisation the necessity of: which lie had impressed upon the Government two years ago.

With regard to the depletion of farm la hour, in England they fully recognised the danger and were exempting agricultural labourers from service. Here lie feared that some of the Military Service Boards did not fully realise the need for carrying on our farm work. It was true Hint we must send every man we could spare; hut of equal importance was the feeding of the soldiers and the people. There was a general threatening of shortage of food, and indeed, some countries were already faced with starvation. Too great stress could not he laid on Hit' necessity for producing all that we possibly could. The Government recognised Hie position, and had set up Hie National Efficiency Board lo cope with the menace of under production, and with this object the hoard was calling meetings of farmers throughout the length and breadth of the country to set up Boards of Trustees and experl advisors to see to the management of the farms of those who were going away to take (heir place in the firing line. It was plain that farms would not run themselves, and already he regretted to say that in various parts of the country many farms were showing Hie ill effects of neglect owing to Hu 1 departure of the farmers themselves or »> f their farm hands. The dairy industry was likely to he particularly affected. One man holding a high position had asked him (Mr Field I tin l other day whether it would not he wise to discontinue dairying on many of our farms and use them for pastoral purpose's instead. His reply had been that the Empire looked to New Zealand for much of its butler and cheese, and above all things that industry must he kept alive. We must have regard lo the country’s, and Hie Empire’s, inlerests, which demanded the production of food and revenue. The interests of individual farmers also must so far as possible Vic safeguarded. He believed that ninetenth.' of the farmers in this country would he perfectly satislied if I hey could keep their farms in good going order, and make a living for their wives and families. They were not looking for, nor were they making, the huge war profits that many people supposed. There would he cases where farmers going on active service would he forced into Hie position of having to si'll out their farms. This was a position which I lie Government was at present considering. No man should he form'd into Hie position of having to sacrilice his property. There was, too, the danger of aggregation. Co-ordination was required between the Military Service and Efficiency Boards, and doubtless it would he well for the last-named hoard lo act as advisors to Hie .Military Boards with respect to farm reservists generally. Other industries, too. were receiving Hie attention of Hie Efficiency Board. There was some ground for hope at the present lime that Hie war would he over before the end of the present year; Iml many prophecies of a similar character bad in the past proved false, and it was onr duty to make preparation for a long continued struggle. Tin* County Council, on the motion of the chairman, Air G, A. Monk', passed a unanimous resolution (hanking Mr Field for bis address. and Hie efforts lie was making on behalf of Hm farming industry, and it was decided that he and Hie chairman should convene a meeting of farmers in Levin for to-morrow to consider the recommendation for the establishment of a board of trustees, under the Efficiency Board, for Otaki, Horowhcnun and Alanawatu districts. Air Thus. .Moss, Commissioner for the Wellington District, will be present.