Farmers and Military Service.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 254, 27 February 1917, Page 3

Farmers and Military Service.

[TO THE EDITOR.] Sir—ln your issue of the 20th inst. I read with cinsiderabls surprise the remarks n ade bv several members ot the Maukii branch of the Farmers' Union, with reference to what I said at the last meeting of the Countv Council when the resolution about farmers and military service was under consideration. 1 certainly did state that the resolution proposed by the Council was ro» identical with the motion passed by the Farmes' Unin, and notwithstanding the remarks made by some members of the Farmers' Union at Mauku lam still of that opinion. I am sorry I have not got a copy of ihe resolution carried at the first meeting of the Farmers' Union wren this matter was considered, but I think members of the Union must admit that at the m?'tirjg tbe Executive practically asked tor general exemption from military service of farmers as a class. The discussion when the motion was before the Executive, and the fact that at least two members ot the Executive voted against the motion clearly prove this; whereas the discussion at the County Council showed plainly that the resolution carried there did not go anywhere nearly sn far as that. Most of the members of the Council who took part in the discussion have cons at the front, and they ate not compaimig about that; but what the speakers strongly condemned, and I think rightly too, was where two, or in some cases three, brothers had gone to the front, a remaining brother—the Bole help left upon the farm—was in many cases called up in the ballot, whilst many eligible* in other families had neither volunteered nor bad been called up in the ballot. I thick we must all acknowledge that the Military Service Boards are now giving mote corsideration to the appeals of farmeis than formerly, and 1 am ghd to see that the Executive of the Farmers' Union at its last meeting admits this much; hut 'I very much regret that any members of the Farmers' Union should think that the innocent remark I made at the Council should be construed as an act of antagonism towards the Farmers' Union, or as one member put it, "having a dig at the Union." 1 was one ot the first to join the Farmers' Union and I still belong to it, and I think that some of the older members ot the Union would admit that I did the best I could for it, especially during its dark days, and although 1 may not be able to agree fully with every action of the Executive 1 can honestly say I wish the Union every success.—l am, etc., JOSEPH FLANAGAN. Drury, 23rd February, 191 V.