FARMERS AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1916, Page 8

FARMERS AND THE WAR.

A LAND OWNER'S SUGGESTION. TAKE OUR OWN COATS OFF. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christehuveh, Yesterday. At the annual meeting of the A. and P. Association, during a discussion regarding the serious shortage of farm hands, it was stated that teams were idle, ploughmen scarce, and that production would he lessened. No complaints were made, but it was asked if the Government could give some idea of how far the depletion of country districts would go, some suggesting that men turned down as temporarily unfit b<> sent out into the country, if the Government would not do anything to make thtm fit. Mr. J. A. Coop, a well-known farmer, would have no compromise. They all knew very well how far they had to go. "We hare got to go to the bitter end," remarked the speaker with emphasis (Hear, hear.) "Those 7(10 men who are temporarily unfit can go on to plough if they like. If things come to the worst we can take oft' our coats and set to work ourselves. Let us go back to ploughing. We arc all worrying about our own little affairs, but what would we do without the British Navy behind us? A man told me the other day that it cost him 400 per cent, more to bring motor cars into this country nowadays than before the war. We don't want motor cars these times, they can ■easily he done without. Another thing that should not be allowed is the importation of American goods. Pracically everything comes from there now. and I think that American shipping should he stopped also." (Hear, hear.)