EKETAHUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1940, Page 7

EKETAHUNA

COUNTY COUNCIL VIEWS ON CONSCRIPTION ISSUE. (“Times-Age” Special.) The monthly meeting of the Eketahuna County Council was held yesterday. Mr J. B. Carruthers (chairman) presided. The following were also present: Councillors C. T. Richardson P. Davies, G. Houlbrooke, F. Gogginl C. Davie, G. Baillie, R. W. Kebbell, H. N. Kebbell. J. J. Dougherty, and A. J. Perry. ' The treasurer reported: County Fund Account, dr £3300; Bridge Fund Account, cr £233; Bridges Loan £BOOO Account, cr £2721; Workers’ Dwelling Loan £lOOO a/c Cr £232; Workers’ Dwelling Loan £1550 A/c. cr £52. At this period last year, the County Fund Account was in debit to the extent of £832. Receipts for the last month totalled £2235. Accounts amounting to £3737 14s 7d were passed. A circular letter was received from the New Zealand Defence League asking the council to give an opinion on compulsory military service. The chairman said that all local bodies had been in receipt of a similar letter. In the past it had been the policy of the council to avoid anything in the nature of politics. It was not for them as representatives of the ratepayers to express their views whether there should be compulsory service or not. He moved that .the communication be received. This, he said, did not bar any councillor from expressing his views on the question if he wished to do so. Councillor A. J. Perry said that he personally supported the request as he had supported conscription from the outset. He thought, however, he would be overstepping his authority if he supported the letter as a councillor. Councillor G. Bailey said that his candid opinion was- that conscription should be in operation, with the right of appeal for objectors. Land was and would continue to deteriorate if men who had already joined up were not replaced. He considered it a “bit over the odds” that the Defence League should ask them to give a decision as a council.

Councillor R. W. Kebbell said he was sorry that it was not the council’s duty to accept the letter from the League. It was a great pity compulsory service had not started with the war. The Government had handled its war programme quite well up to a point, but it was not too late now for it to consider the question of compulsory military training. Young men on farms were in a cruel position in that they did not know where they stood. He considered the Government should bring down some definite policy and then everyone would feel more settled.

The chairman said that he was in full accord with the letter. Compulsion should have been brought in from the first and a tribunal should have been set up to determine the really essential industries whose employees could be exempted. As far as'politics were concerned in the question, they should be dropped and everybody should get behind the Government in its war effort. He was of the opinion the Government had been ill-advised on this question. Councillor P. Davies agreed that the voluntary . system was not fair. If all the willing men went away then the Communists would have a free rein in the country. He was of the opinion that 90 per cent of the First Echelon consisted of farm workers. Councillor Goggin approved the remarks of previous speakers. The Government had said the conscription of man-power would mean the conscription of wealth. The man who had money would have to make some sacri • fice. Councillor Dougherty was also of the opinion that the compulsory system was the only fair and equitable means of getting the man power required. The motion that the letter be received was carried unanimously. The Castlepoint County Council wrote stating that it was declaring as a noxious weed the milk thistle (silybum) and asked the Eketahuna Council if it would also give the matter its consideration with a view to declaring the same a noxious weed in its territory. The reason forwarded for the request was that patches of the weed were reported in neighbouring counties on 01 near the boundary of the Castlepoint County Council. It was amazing, the letter went on to state, the rapidity with which this weed was capable of spreading. One councillor had given an instance where a small patch had covered several acres in one year. The Castlepoint Council believed that it prompt measures were taken now foi the eradication of the plant, the danger of it becoming a menace as in the case of gorse and ragwort would be averted cheaply and without much hardship. It believed that the milk thistle could easily become as great a pest as gorse or ragwort if steps were not taken immediately to check it. It was decided to accede to the request.

The Newman School Committee drew the attention of the council to the bad visibility of Moss’s corner, also Jasper’s hill top. The letter stated that as a number of small children used this road daily, the committee felt, with fast traffic, the above mentioned corners were a source of danger to the children. The matter was left in the hands of the engineer with power to act. It was decided that the survey of No. 62 highway be proceeded with. Personal. Gunner W. Oldham is spending the weekend in Eketahuna. The death has occurred in Christchurch of Mrs G. Mamussen. sister of Mrs K. Kendall. Eketahuna. Fireman S. J. O’Regan left today to attend the W.F.B.A. conference at Petone. INDIVIDUAL VIEWS COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE. Arising out of a letter received from

the New Zealand Defence League which the council received at yesterday’s meeting of the Eketahuna County Council, the following statement was drawn up as individual opinion on the question of conscription:— “Though as a council we do not think we should be asked to give an opinion of the ratepayers, as individuals we think that conscription should have been brought in at the commencement of the war, and that we are in complete sympathy with the objects of the letter from the New Zealand Defence League.” The statement which will be forwarded to the League’s headquarters, was signed by J. B. Carruthers, Charles T. Richardson, Phillip Davies, L. G. Houlbrooke, F. M. Goggin, C. Davie, M. G. Bailey, R. W. Kebbell, J. J. Dougherty. A. J. Perry. H. N. Kebbell.