WOMEN’S LAND ARMY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 114, 12 April 1940, Page 2

WOMEN’S LAND ARMY.

COMMENT BY MINISTER. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 11. No representations had been made to him regarding the establishment of a women’s land army and it seemed that for the present there was no desire for it, said the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. IV. Lee Martin) to the National Recruiting Council to-day when he replied to a report by Mr L. Caro (Hamilton) advocating the establishment of such an organisation. Mr Lee Martin said he had discussed the matter with women’s organisations in November, and no suggestions for the establishment of a Jand army had yet come forward. He was convinced the time had not yet arrived for it. If it were started he was satisfied the whole responsibility would l>e thrust on the Government and there would be considerable difficulty in creating the desired organisation and placing the women to advantage throughout New Zealand. So far there were no reaL grounds to believe that women’s organisations were behind the project or wanted to see a land army established.

The Director-General of Agriculture (Mr A. H. Cockayne) said he had not l>een approached since the initial meeting in November, but he felt there should be some sort of organisation put into force through which women, trained or not and desiring to go on the land, could be placed with reasonable employers.