GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1918, Page 4

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

THE FARM LABOR PROBLEM By Telegraph.—Press Association. Ashburton, Jan. 18. A representative meeting of farmers held to-day to discuss farming problems resolved to advise the Efficiency Board and the Government that there is sufficient unskilled labor available to carry through the present harvest, but that there is a serious shortage of skilled farm labor and that next season's sowing will lie considerably curtailed unless expert farm labor is exempted from military service. THE MAIN BODY MEN ON LEAVE. Wellington, Jan. 18. Consequent upon the cancellation of the proposed general leave for members of the Main Body, a number who wished to return to New Zealand for urgent business or family reasons were invited to apply for permission. This was granted to a small group, while others were informed that arrangements would probably be made to give them furlough at a later date. The first party recently arrived, and having been led to anticipate two or throe months' furlough in the Dominion were disappointed at receiving only three weeks. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association made inquiries on behalf of these men, and it appears the authorities in England omitted to send details of the conditions upon which the members of the party had returned. Consequently until this information was obtained, only the regulation three week's leave could he granted. Members of the paity have since been notified that they should apply to the Director of Base Records for extension of leave sufficient to enable them to carry out the private matters for which they were allowed to return.