WAR EMERGENCY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 February 1942, Page 4

WAR EMERGENCY

DISCUSSED BY FARMERS’ UNION DOMINION EXECUTIVE PROPOSALS. IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF RACING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An unanimous decision to request the Government to terminate racing activities forthwith was reached by the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union at its quarterly meeting yesterday. The decision followed cn a consideration of the war position in general and relation to it of the farming community in particular. Strong opinions were expressed individually about the need of getting down to a war footing. Every possible ounce, it was urged, should be put into the war effort and things of a luxury nature should be the first to go. Racing, it was contended, was in that category. Complaints were received of serious delays on farms by racing interfering with work, to the national detriment. Agreeing that in view of Mr Churchill’s speech about the gravity of the situation, the whole question of meat arrangements should be reviewed, the executive felt that the Dominion, under present circumstances, could have no consideration whatever for its own convenience and that steps should be taken immediately to see that meat sent to Britain was of a class which gave the greatest possible amount of nutrition in the smallest cargo space. The views of the United Kingdom Ministry of Food should be obtained without delay. The question of how best the national morale and war effort could be strengthened was discussed. It was agreed that, failing what was considered the best method of uniting the country, a truly national Government, a strengthened War Cabinet with wider powers, including control of all phases of activities impinging on the war effort, should be set up. The executive was of opinion that this strengthening should be done by the introduction to the War Cabinet of men of proved energy and administrative ability, irrespective of political considerations, and if necessary from outside politics.