WAR AND INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1917, Page 6

WAR AND INDUSTRY.

ORGANISATION COMENCED. ACTION BY TARANAKI 'PRODUCERS' COMMITTEE. TRUSTEE BOARDS.APPOINTED, j A hurriedly-convened meeting of the Taranaki Producers' Committee, as appointed at the large meeting of dairy farmers held at Eltham on February 24, was held at Eltham yesterday, for the purpose of discussing with Mr T. Moss, Wellington and Taranaki Commissioner of the National Industrial 'Efficiency Board, the best means of organising the industries and labor of Taranaki, and for the purpose of appointing boards of trustees to supervise the necessary work of carrying on farms and businesses of soldiers who may he called on actfye service, nad whose farms or businesses might otherwise fall into disuse, or have to be closed.

Mr J. B. Murdoch (Joll's 'Dairy Co.), chairman of the Producers' Committee, presided, and others present were Messrs 0. A. Wilkinson, M.P., G. H. Buckeridge (secretary), R. Dingle (Stratford), T. Bowler (Moa Fanners), W. D. Powdrell (Kaupokonui), F. Mills (Hawera), T. A. Winks (Ararata), H. D. Forsvth and C. J. Belcher (Eltham), J. T. Quin (Farmers' Freezing Works), J. L. Weir, D. Byrne, L. Hill, and G. D. Gow (Eltham Chamber of Commerce), R. Farquhar (Awatuna), A. Morton (Mangorei), .T. Brown (Maketawa), B. Booker (Lowgarth), and G. Death (Kaponga). In introducing Mr Moss, the chairman said the commissioner was present for the purpose of arranging the best means of furthering the interests of the country in the national cause, and of assisting the farming industry. He wished to discuss the position generally, and to appoint Trustee Boards as outlined by Sir James Allen when the Efficiency Boar was constituted. Data and figures would be supplied to Moss later. Mr Moss returned thanks for the welcome extended to him, and went on to say lie wished to appoint 10 or 12 Trustee Boards in this district. The duties of the Trustee Boards would be to appoint working mangers to carry on the farms or businesses of soldier.', such managers to work under toe supervision of the Trustee Board, and to assist the central executive by collecting data to enable them to effectively organise all labor, both male and female, so as to conserve what was absolutely necessary to carry on the production to the fullest extent possible, and, at the same timo, to enable all who were not actually indispensible as producers to be released for active service. Mr Moss spoke eulogistically of the men the producers had sent away, the work they had done, and the sacrifices they had made without a murmur. He had lost two sons at the front, and could appreciate the feelings of those who had made similar sacrifices. With regard to labor for the farms, he had received a telegram from Mr Ferguson (chairman of the National Efficiency Board) the previous evening, stating that one young lady in town had volunteered for farm work, and was an expert butter maker. But he realised that townspeople would not be able to take up practical farm work. They were in the same position as Britain was at the commencement of the war—in somewhat of a muddle, and they should endeavour to straighten matters as soon as possible. Coming through ' the Manawatu on his way to Taranaki Jie saw instances of farms going hack to their original state through neglect, their owners being at the front. They could not afford to let tilings like tliat happen and the Board was doing its best to prevent such things happening. However there was no need for him to enter into details of the Board's duties, which all present were to some extent conversant with.

I SCOPE OF BOARDS, Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., said lie was sure chat they all appreciated the early visit of Mr Moss to Taranaki, and further, that they had confidence in him, and would do their best to help him. At an informal gathering held the 5 previous evening it had been suggested ! that a number of trustee boards be set [ up as provided for by the Government, | in the following districts of Taranaki: ! .Yew Plymouth country district, Eltham, ; Hawera, Opunake, Manaia, Stratford, • Whangamo'mona, Inglewood, Mokau, Patea and New Plymouth town' district. It was further suggested that these boards consist of three members, one of whom should be appointed to a central executive, with a paid secretary. He thought this would prove satisfactory to all of them. SUGGESTIONS APPROVED. Te chairman supported the proposal. He moved: That this meeting approve of the suggestions of the Efficiency Board to appoint boards of trustees to take over the necessary management of 1 farms and businesses of soldiers who ale called upon for active service. Mr H. D. Forsyth seconded. Mr J. Quin did not think the resolution went far enough. The chairman pointed out that they could go further in later resolutions. Mr J. Brown thought they should appoint the boards first and define their duties afterwards. The cart was before the horse He supported Mr Wilkinson's suggestion, but said they must be careful not to give the boards more than they could possibly do. Mr Morton pointed out that the resolution was only one approving of the Efficiency Board's suggestion. ' It was, he further declared, t'ie only workable method. The scope of the subsidiary b'oards' work could be dissussed later. The resolution was then carried. CONSTITUTION OF THE BOARDS. Mr. Wilkinson mobed: "That the Taranaki provincial district be divided into areas each with its own board of trustees of three members, representing town and country, each board to appoint one of its members to an executive." Mr. Powdrell seconded. Mr. Forsyth pointed out that they wanted practical men on these boards. He suggested that they appoint town and country boards. It would considerably lighten the work and make provision for appointment of thoroughly competent men to manage any partlcu liir class of business. Mr. Wilkinson said he was quite satisfied that if they had separate boards they would clash. Mr. Weir said there wag plenty of business men available. Mr. Forsyth considered that the districts mentioned were fairly large ones. A lot of work would be required.

Mr. Moss approved of the districts, and said these boards would be able to take a lot of responsiOMiy off the shoulders of men going away. Thev wanted to be able to promise these men that they should on their return find their businesses in, as far as possible, the same condition as they left them (Hear, hear.) The chairman pointed out that th« ,trustee boards could appoint further individual trustees to assist the boards in their work. ( WORKERS WANTED. Mr. R. Dingle said it was not the question of supervising the businesses and farms of absent men; it was the provision of the necessary labor tha. would prove the difficulty. In his own company there would be a large number of men called i within the' next six months. They >uld appoint supervisor, —but supervisej's would not milk the cows. They could appoint as manv supervisors as they liked, but what was the use of supervisors without the labor. They had to get the men to do the work. That was the problem. He would be.very sorry to have to supervise a farm run by people from the towns He did not want to cast any slur upon the townspeople, but they were not used to such work, and could not be expected to do it satisfactorily. EVERY FARM IN ACTION. TV chairman said the National Efficiency Board had particularly stressed the point that they did not want to put a single farm out of action. When the position became as bad as that the Board would take the matter in hand. In reply to question he said the statistics of available labor, etc., were being gathered, and also announced that Mr. Cooper (chairman of the Military Board) had promised to meet the 'farmers' executive. Mr. Quin pointed out that thev had no power. All their efforts were wasted until they had. Mr. Wilkinson said that would come later. Meantime they were doing good' work. Mr. Moss pointed out that some milkers in the Wairarapa were giving up their cows. They wanted to stop anything like that, which would perhaps mean closing a factory. Mr. Morton did not agree with Mr. Dingle regarding the supervisors. It was a wrong term—they would be working managers, and they should appoint one for each farm.

The resolution was put and carried unanimouslv.

PERSONNEL OF BOARDS.

The following boards of trustees were appointed for the districts stated:—

New Plymouth (country).—Messrs John S. Connett, J. R. Rowlands, C Andrews.

Inglewood.—Messrs A. Morton, J. Brown, and W. E. Percival. Whangamomona.—Messrs. W. A. MeCuteheon, J. P. Williams, W.L. Kennedy.

Stratford.—Messrs R. Dingle, R. Mas. ters and P. J. Peterson.

Eltham.—Messr's J. T. Quin, J. L Weir and C. J. Belcher.

Hawera.—Messrs J. B. Murdoch, T. A. Winks, and E. Dixon.

Manaia.—Messrs W. D. Powdrell R Dunn, and T. McPhillips. Patea.—Messrs C. Tonks, C. S. Fleming and A. Symes.

Opunake.—Messrs J. Burgess, E. Max. well, and R. Lambie.

The appointment of the New Plvmouth (town) hoard was deterred until Tuesday, when the matter will be discussed at a meeting to be Jieid in New Plymouth. CO-OPERATION" SOLICITED.

I'ach member appointed has been written to, asking him if he w.ll act, and asking him to let the hem. secretory, Mr G. H. Buckeridge, Eltham, know his decision at the earliest possible moment One member of each board will be appointed to act as the board's representative on the Central Executive. The services of the members of the boards are expected to be given voluntarilv, but those of the working managers will he paid for, where necessarv. The urgent necessity of the work being done" at once was pointed out to the" appointees. Eacii was confidently appealed to for active assistance, in this time of national crisis, to do all that was possible to render the position of those who have to fight the battles' of those who remained behind, as secure as was possible under the circumstances, t o that they might go away feeling that thev have a reasonable hope of finding themselves not altogether ruined when they come back to their farms or ousin»;ses APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY. ' The meeting recommended to the Efficiency Board that Mr G. H. BuekendTe be appointed secretary to the Boards of Trustees and Executive of the 'taranaki Provincial District.

APPRECIATION EXPRESSED." "*'' It was resolved "That Mr Moss be heartily thanked for his early visit to the Taranaki district, and that, owin« to great uneasiness at present provaifmg among the dairy farming community in regard to the uncertainty of the position, that the Efficiency Hoard be urgently requested to hold" its first meeting in the Taranaki district/' Votes of thanks to the chait, and to the JJorough Council for the we of the chamber, concluded the mceti::-.