RECRUITING.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1915, Page 3

RECRUITING.

IS IT AFFECTING THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY? CONFERENCE OF DAIRY COMPANIES SUGGESTED SOME EXTRAORDINARY SENTIMENTS.

(From Our Stratford Correspondent.) Stratford, Last Night.

At the conclusion of the formal business of the Patriotic Committee at Stratford yesterday afternoon, Mr. W. P. Kirkwood, honorary recruiting officer for that district, said there was a very important matter that he would like the Committee to discuss, and that was to what extent they could go towards recruiting without affecting the dairying industry. A number of factory employees had enlisted, or were about to enlist, and it had been suggested that cheese and butter-makers migtft be replaced by rejects, returned soldiers, or possibly women. He would like an expression of opinion on. this all-import-ant matter, as it seemed to him a senseless thing to send expert workmen to the front, and they could not be replaced. Mr. Belcher said the question needed a good deal of consideration. He thought it would be a very good plan for the recruiting officer to communicate with the factory manager, before the men were accepted. Mr. Masters: The recruiting officer is not in a position to refuse to take a manwhen he offers his services.

Mr. Kirkwood said he was not speaking of this district alone; it effected the whole of the dairy companies in Taranaki. He intended to suggest to the authorities that they should call a conference of all the dairy companies in the province to discuss the matter, and come to some definite decision. It was just as important to produce as it was to send men to the firing line. Mr. Dingle, chairman of the Stratford Dairy Company, said he was very pleased the question had been brought up. Kaw material could not be made up eacept by expert workmen. Tt was most difficult to get men to fill these experts' places. Every man in a dairy factory had his own particular work to attend to, and was naturally expert at it. The manager of one of their creameries had spoken to his company's manager, and said he intended to enlist. However, he had promised to stay on till they could find a man in his place, but it was most difficult to get a suitable man to fill the vacancy. Mr. W. Richards, chairman of the Cardiff Dairy Company, said'he could not see how a returned trooper could fill any of the vacancies that might occur. If he was unable to fight he was surely unable to do the hard work required at a cheese factory. Cheese factory work was especially heavy work, as the cheeses weighed 801bs. ■ Four of the hands from his company had enlisted, and Mr. Kirkwood had mentioned the matter to him with the result that he interviewed the men and three of them promised to remain till the rush of the season was over, but one had insisted on enlisting. Mr. Dingle said he wanted to make it clear that his company were not putting anything in their employees' way to prevent them from enlisting. Mr. Sangster said they did not know yet how many men would have to go. The time might come when women may have to take the place of men in factories. It was done in ' other parts of the world. Mr. Masters said the fanners in Taranaki, or anywhere else for that matter, must understand that they are not going through this war without making great sacrifices. He did not want to see recruiting hampered by the farmers, and he felt sure the farmers, if necessary, would sacrifice to the last man.

Mr. Sangster said one of his sons had gone to the front and another one was going, and his girls would have to step in and take their places. (Applause.)

The chairman said the point was how far they should go in this matter. If plenty of men were coming forward it was a fair thing to keep these expert men back till* the ranks had been filled, or until the ru9h at the factories was over.

Rev. Pattison said the problem was how to replace the men in factories and elsewhere. Sacrifices would have to be made, and if girls could take the place of men. in different occupations it was their duty to do it.

Mr. Dingle said it was questionable whether women could replace men in dairy factories. The work was arduous, and was for seven days a week—and long hours at that. There were other aspects of the question besides sending the boys to the front. These boys at the front had to be fed, and it was only right that we should do everything possible to produce as much as we could so that that could be done. He did not like all the question of recruiting put on the farmers. On going into some of the business premises in Stratford and elsewhere, he saw plenty of young men behind the counters who should be at the front, and their places could easily be filled by girls. Mr. Masters said he doibted whether girls in butter and cheese factories could do the work. H» admitted it was unwise to send all their expert men to the front. He did not think it fair that the remarks of Mr. Dingle regarding some of the young men in the shops should go further without a word of explanation, in fairness to tlicm. Two of his employees had enlisted, and were most anxious to go, but had failed to pass the medical test, and they had tried more than once to get away. Mr., Thomas said he was sorry the town versus country had entered into the argument. They were out to beat the Germans, and should employ every means in their power to attain that object, and, if necessary, they should take every man in the country and every bit of wealth.

Rev. Pattisoii said it was absolutely necessary that a'conference of the whole of the companies in Taranaki interested should be held, in order that a proper agreement should be arrived at that was fair to recruiting and to the factories. Mr. Kirkwood said he was pleased with the discussion, and he had no doubt a conference would be held.