The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1915. THE FARMERS AND THE CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 384, 2 June 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1915. THE FARMERS AND THE CRISIS.

The action taken by the Mayor of New Plymouth (Mr. J. E. Wilson) in convening the meeting which was held on Monday evening at the Town Hall with the object of discussing the question of providing help for the farmers at harvesting time, and to encourage, farmers to grow more cereal crops, was an emphatic testimony-of that spirit of unity of purpose that has been evoked as one of the consequences of the war. There has never been such a time in the history of the Empire when, the people have drawn closer together ill their aims, their hop/'s and their sympathies, as well as in the overpowering desire to join hands for the common good. No longer can there be any question of town versus country o r. any other factional 'pettiness. At a time like the present all dividing lines—real and imaginary—must disappear and the people stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, hand in hand to face the crisis on which tho fate olf nations hangs on a slender thread. What, therefore, coulj be more consonant with the spirit of the hour than for Hie townspeople to offer t 0 the farmers a solution of tile labor shortage trouble, by means of personal service? The Mayor rightly stressed the fact that there must inevitably be a world-wide shortage of cereal crops while so many millions of men were under arms, and that the consequence of the shortage of wheat would probably prove most serious. and (hat as far as possible it was the duty of every fanner having land suitable for the purpose to grow as much wheat ;js possible. Recognising'

| that, the harvesting was the most- seriI ous difficulty, owing to lack of labor, the Mayor propounded a scheme whereby those who were unable to take pari in the war could do -equally important service by helping to provide fond for the Empire'. There are numbers of men in the towns who are not only able but willing to co-operate with the farmers in this emergency, and we arc- confident, (hat. they would perform their allotted tasks with an energy and intelligence that would merit the approval, and even the gnitit.nile, of the farmers. Tn the discussion which took place mention was made of difficulties in the way

of carrying out the proposal. There are no real difficulties that cannot be easily overcome beforehand, though some of the details may need careful handling. It must bo remembered that tho basic principlo of the scheme is practical patriotism, so that friction over minor matters is hardly likely to be experienced. Tho question of payment of wages in return for the labor is one that can be settled in a few minutes by a conference. Naturally, the farmers would, in their independent spirit, desire to pay a fair sum ratb»r than receive free labor, but in assessing the amount of amateur help it would be reasonable to place the figure below that Usually paid to men who are expert at tho work. Doubtless in many cases the money earned would find its way into one of the many patriotic funds, but that need not be considered. The outstanding feature of the scheme is to induce tho farmers to grow as much grain as possible, and to assure them that at harvest time there will be a sufficiency of help to deal with the crops. In the early days in this district . the pioneers had to grow wheat in a very primitive way, tho seed being sown in land which had been hacked by a grubber but the crops wore good, and, though harvested with difficulty, the yield was secured. To-day, troubles like those do not exist, as labor-saving devices leave little for. manual work beyond stooking and stacking. The crux of the scheme is with the farmers. Tiiey known the imperative need for more Wheat; they are assured of the requisite labor for harvesting, and the only question is will they rise to the occasion? Looking at the past history of Taranaki and the magnificent work done by the pioneers of the district, one cannot help feeling that the farmers of to-day may be safely relied upon to do their duty to their country in the one way in which, by so doing, the "Empire, as well as their country, will be best served. A committee of citizens has been set up to work with a similar body of farmers and we have every confidence that this joining of hands will be productive of the most satisfactory results. The call of the Empire is insistent, and it is quite as strong in the ears of the producers as in those of the gallant defenders. "Your country needs you," is applicable with equal force, to every citizen of the Empire, each playing a part, and the farmers of Taranaki cannot fail to realise that their metier is to prow foodstuffs and (hereby sustain the Umpire in its hour of greatest need.