PRODUCE OR MEN?

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1917, Page 4

PRODUCE OR MEN?

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. THE POSITION EXPLAINED. (By Our Speni/l Reporter). Stratford, Lust Night. As the outcome of the representative meeting of farmers last Saturday at Eltluun, regarding tho position of dairy farmers and the Appeal Boards, a deputation wuitcd upon the Acting Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) at Stratford this evening. Tho deputation was introduced by Messrs 11. J. Okey and C. A. Wilkinson, M.'s P., who, along with Messrs J. Murdoch, A. Morton aijd J. Quin, were the principal speakers. It was pointed out that the farmers were doing their utmost to help the country, an 3" were now faced with two alternatives—should they keep up the supply of men for the front or keep up the production. The farmers were at their wits' end owing to the shortage of labor, and the deputation asked that a dairy farmer represent therii on the Appeal Board. Mr Allen in reply said hy recognised that the position of the dairying industry was a particularly difficult one; production must be kept up. He said the "Military Service Board was doing its best to cope with the situation. When the Industrial Efficiency Board was at work, a representative would be sent round, and would obtain expert advice as to industries and the labor available. The Board would co-operate witn the Military Service Board. He asked those present to assist the representative in every way. In regard to placing a daily farmer on the Board, he could not alter the constitution. It must not be forgotten, that 110 favoritism could be shown. He could <iot look into the future, but hoped that the 2nd Division would not be called up. In any case, six months would elapse before they would be required. Before next dairying season he hoped that labor would bo so organised as to meet the situation. He strongly advised men not. to give up their farms, but to maintain production to the utmost. He himself was doing his best.