WHEAT GROWING AND COMPULSION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1942, Page 2

WHEAT GROWING AND COMPULSION.

the application of compulsion to the growing of wheat gave rise to a good deal of discussion at the meeting of farmers held in Masterton on Friday last, the right thing obviously was done in the rejection of a proposal to declare that compulsion in this matter should not be necessary next year. In a period of war emergency, in which military service is on a compulsory basis and wide measures of mandatory control have been established over many branches of industrial and economic affairs, there can be no valid objection in principle to compelling farmers to grow wheat or other crops that the Biominion vitally needs. A good case will be made out against compulsion only by showing that it is unnecessary and that farmers will grow voluntarily all the wheat that is needed. It is, of course, most desirable that requirements should be satisfied in this way, but as yet appeals for voluntary action have met with an inadequate total response in the Wairarapa. A proportion, but only a proportion, of our district fanners in a position to do so have met the call creditably. The facts were well brought out at Friday’s meeting, though not then by any means for the first time, and it may be hoped that there will be an immediate and appreciable addition to the area to be sown in wheat in the Wairarapa.