MEN OR FOOD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1939, Page 3

MEN OR FOOD

— WHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT. A WAR PROBLEM. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 17. Some concern at the large number of men who have been taken from farms for military service was expressed by Mr S. Freeman, organising secretary of the Young Farmers' Clubs of New Zealand, during an address to young farmers. Mr Freeman said that a committee had now been organised to see that men from essential occupations were not drafted for service, but that seemed to him rather like shutting the stable door when the horse had escaped. “I was told in Wellington that of the men enlisting, 75 per cent were from the country,” said Mr Freeman. “Something is being done now, I believe, to see that men are kept in essential industries, but it seems rather like locking the stable door when the horse has left. Which is of more importance to Great Britain, men or food?” Mr Freeman said that the Young Farmers’ movement now consisted of 203 clubs with a total membership of nearly 6000. He suggested that the clubs could do a great deal to assist in increasing production in the country, by such means as organising emergency gangs to help with harvesting or even with shearing. By doing so, the young farmers would not only be helping the country and the Empire, but would be helping themselves. A number of the clubs, he said, had since the war said that they would disband for the duration of hostilities, but this was a false step. The organisation had grown into something of great value to the farming industry, and unless it was kept going now, when there were more opportunities than ever for useful service, it would be very difficult, if not impossible to rebuild it later to the same strength. t