GROWING WHEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 July 1942, Page 4

GROWING WHEAT

MEETING OF FARMERS IN CARTERTON FULL SUPPORT PLEDGED. URGENT NEED FOR INCREASED ACREAGE. (“Times-Age” Special.) _ Full support for the campaign fo increased wheat growing was pledged in a resolution passed by a meeting oi farmers held in Carterton last night. The meeting was called by the Masterton Primary Production Counci and was presided oyer by Mi. L.Ta brother. The speakers were Messrs Ben Roberts and J. Robertson, Ms.P., and R. W. Kebbell, chairman ol the Primary Production Council. . The attendance was only fair and local farmers missed an excellent opportunity, not only to hear unpublished information about the Pacific war situation generally but also to gam an understanding of the procedure to c followed for securing labour for essential primary production. The frank address of Messrs Roberts and Robertcon left no doubt in the minds of those present of the urgency of the need for increased food production. As Mr Robertson put it, the situation was such that the farmers were being asked “not to grow the area of wheat that they can conveniently manage but the absolute maximum they can possibly achieve.” Included in the resolution in support of the campaign was a clause to the effect that the Farmers’ Union be urged to use its influence to further the campaign. It was felt that the Farmers’ Union organisation should be called upon to assist the Production Council in its supervision of labour supplies. In outlining plans to deal with the labour situation, Mr Kebbell stated that the viewpoints of all parties concerned ' should be considered. While the council could guarantee that really essential labour could be found, it had to be understood that farmers would be asked to manage with the absolute minimum of labour necessary for efficient production and only with the full co-operation of farmers could the i scheme function satisfactorily.