DUTY IN TIME OF WAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 126, 27 April 1940, Page 11

DUTY IN TIME OF WAR

YOUNG FARMERS’ POSITION, INCREASING PRODUCTION. The part of young farmers in wartime was referred to in the annual report of Mr E. AV. Barnett, chairman of the Manawatu Young Farmers’ Clubs District Committee, presented at the annual meeting of. delegates last evening. The report emphasised the desirability of increasing production on the home front, particularly in view of the invasion of Norway and Denmark. “Since the outbreak of the war most of our members have been faced, and will continue to be faced as long as the voluntary system exists, with the problem of making a decision as to whether they should enlist or remain on the farms and continue with the very necessary work of primary production,” saicl the report. “This decision is one which must be made by each individual, after giving serious consideration as to where lie can be of the greatest value, and taking into consideration all the circumstances peculiar to his own position. Many of our members have decided that tliev would be of the greatest value in the active fighting forces and have, therefore, enlisted, and to these I extend the committee's best wishes and appreciation. “To those who have made, or will make, the decision to fight on the home front for the continuance ol production, I would say that although your job will, perhaps, not entail the same risk or sacrifice, neither will it entail the same publicity, and it may have attached to it as the war progresses many difficulties, while you may be exposed to certain unpleasantness, but it is a job that is of vital importance to the successful conduct and concluding of the war, and so 1 would ask you to bend all your energies toward not merely maintaining, but increasing, the production of products. . “The recent sad desecration of Norway and Denmark lias cut off important supplies of food to England, and this loss must be made up. Tor this reason alone, all young tanners are earnestly requested to let no meeting of their club go by without their attendance so that they may take t it fullest possible advantage of the very latest farming knowledge to further their efforts towards increased produc--11011 THE NAVY’S PART.

‘•J -wish to call to your attention Mr Winston Churchill’s article regarding the British Navy. He states: l<or consider these ships, so vast in themselves, yet so small, so easily lost to sight on the surface of the waters . . • on them, as we conceived, floated the might, majesty, dominion, and power of “the British Empire. All our long history, built up century after centuiy. all our great affairs in every part o the o-lobe, all the means of livelihood and safety of our faithful, industrious, active population depended on them. Open the sea-cocks, and let them sink beneath the surface, as another fleet was one day to do in another British harbour far to the. north, and in a few minutes- —half an hour at the most —the whole outlook of the world would he changed. The British Empire would dissolve like a dream; each isolated community struggling forward by itself; the central power of union broken; mighty provinces, whole empires in themselves drifting helplessly out of control, and falling a prey to strangers; and Empire, alter one sudden convulsion, passing into the iron grip and rule of the Teuton and of nil that the Teuton system meant.’ ‘‘We know that our Navy is still very much in existence and is even now engaged in winning victories surpassing even its own traditions,” Mr Barnett added. ‘‘But if food supplies fail or become scarce it is equivalent to opening the sea-cocks and scuttling the fleet i'll spite of all they may do. Our armies cannot fight, on short rations and nothing breaks a nation s morale more quickly than Iho of women and children weak from improper diet and scarce food. It is our proud privilege to see that those vital supplies do not fail, and to our young farmers falls the task of finding out through their clubs how this may lie clone and ill on to home unci do it. The Empire needs men. _ She also needs food and produce. We all profess loyalty lo the Empire. Let us demonstrate that loyalty by giving to the Em j ire those things which it is within our power to give.” During the discussion on the report Mr C. J. Hamblvn. of the Department of Agriculture, said that, there would probably be a remit coming before the provincial rou noil asking for a cl oarer lend on the part young farmers should take in the war. He did not think there would he any clearer definition than this: There were two jobs New Zealand was asked to do. the first home to supply food. II any young farmer left the farm lie was not doing the first job first.