TERRITORIAL CAMP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1941, Page 4

TERRITORIAL CAMP

DRAIN ON LABOUR EFFORT TO MEET POSITION. MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 2. The Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, said tonight that he had noticed that discussions were still taking place among farmers’ organisations and particularly wheatgrowers throughout Canterbury concerning the expected calling up of territorials for collective training during January, and difficulties which that would mean in connection with the wheat harvest. Mr Sullivan said that the matter had received close attention by him as Minister in charge of the wheat, flour and bread scheme, and had been referred by the instructions of the Prime Minister to the primary and industrial production committee of the Wai’ Council, of which Mr Sullivan is chairman. His committee had recommended to the War Cabinet, which had adopted it, procedure which it was felt would substantially reduce, if not entirely eliminate, the difficulties which wheat-farmers and others feared would arise in harvesting if all the men concerned were called upon to go into camp at one' time. Under the procedure decided upon, which had the concurrence of the Army, the president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr Mulholland, who is a member of the committee, the Department of Agriculture, and others interested in secondary industries, collective training would be carried out during two periods —January to March and March to May. It had also been decided that any exemptions granted should be through the usual channels, namely, appeals to manpower committees. The attention of manpower committees was being drawn to the importance of granting exemption during the first period to those who are essential in primary, secondary and associated industries, specific mention being made of cereal growing, linen flax production, seed production, dairy factory work, and so on. All men would be given immediate notice of the date on which they would be required to go to camp, the object being to enable employers and the men themselves to have adequate time to lodge appeals. It would also enable the army to make any necessary readjustments. Mr Sullivan said he understood that arrangements had been made between the president' of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and the Army whereby officers commanding districts and their staff officers would get into touch with local farmers’ organisations and discuss the situation with a view to making the best possible arrangements as to dates for men going into camp.