USE OF PRISONERS-OF-WAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 3 September 1942, Page 4

USE OF PRISONERS-OF-WAR

APPROVED BY PRIMARY PRODUCTION COUNCIL VEGETABLE GROWING IN NELSON A motion that “In view of the severe shortage of labour this meeting urges the Government to consider using Italian prisoners-of-war on vegetable production, and is prepared to assist the Government to formulate a scheme,” was passed by the Nelson Primary Pro. duction Council yesterday afternoon after hearing an address by Captain B. V. Cooksley, liaison officer between the Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes and vegetable growers. Captain Cooksley (as was published yesterday) suggested that prisoners-of-war could be brought from Australia for the purpose. It was suggested during the discussion that followed that several camp? of prisoners could be established in various parts of the district to work on farms nearby, thus saving considerable transport and also accommodation difficulties. In reply lo Captain Cooksley Mr C. R. Sutton said that gangs of 20 or 30 men could be used at one time on a large paddock picking peas. Mr D. I. Llewellin said that they could use a camp of 30 men in the Nga. timoti district above what labour was now available. Captain Cooksley said that he had previously been uf the opinion that prisoners-of-war could only be used on large Government projects, but after hearing the information supplied he believed now that there was scope for their use in the Nelson district by private growers.