Classification Of Labour For Farms Urged on Minister

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1942, Page 6

Classification Of Labour For Farms Urged on Minister

In an effort to solve "the problem of obtaimng adequate manpower to maintain primary production in the country," the North Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union will recommend to the Minister of National Service that a classification be made immediately of men essential for that purpose who are in camp or about to go into camp. This decision was made at a meeting of the executive. A long discussion on the present position of manpower on farms developed after the presentation of a report by an executive member, Mr. J. W. Earl, who is also chairman of the primary production committee for the Waikari and Hawarden districts. "Although, in many ways, production is as essential to the winning of the war as arms, there is an obvious lack of co-ordination between the army and the production authorities," Mr. Earl said. "Primary production committees have made recommendations to the manpower committees regarding essential men, but the manpower committees cannot order their release from camp — they, too, can only recommend it. Once a man returns from camp after a temporary release and . is drafted to an overseas force the national service authorities have no jurisdiction whatsoever over him in connection with the use of his services for essential production. There- 1 fore, it is quite obvious that there are ' tremendous loopholes between th> primary production committees, the various manpower committees, and the army authorities. Such loopholes are a big factor in creating inefficiency and impairing the country's total war effort." Mr. Earl submitted that the problem would be solved by classifying the service of every man at present in camp or about to enter camp as to his essentiality to the needs of the country for "its production, its commerce, and its administration." Lack of Foresight. "A classic example of the lack of foresight is that after three years of war, it has been necessary to import certain cereals into the country, and thus take up valuable shipping space, time, and money," Mr. Earl added. "The wheat and barley imported could quite easily have been grown in this country had there been the proper co-ordina-tion." The fact that the army authorities had the final say about the release of men from camp caused the hitch, said Mr. Fleming. "The whole tliing is a farce. The Minister of Pnmary Production for War Purposes, the Hon. W. J. Polson, has . been touring the country i looking into the matter, but he can't do a thing until he gets back to Wellington. Then the Minister of Manpower refers it finally to the army authorities— and they are army men who don't worry about production. In my opinion the farmers have been sold a pup." The times were critical, and farmers would have to meet the extraordinary conditions by extraordinary efforts, said the chairman, Mr. R. G. Bishop, after further discussion. "We want more production and we will have to work together to get that extra production," he said. Several members emphasised the excellent work being done by the various ! manpower committees. The proposal to place the question of classification before the Minister of Manpower was carried unanimously.