IRATE FARMERS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21374, 19 March 1941, Page 7

IRATE FARMERS

TRUCKS FOR ARMY “BUNGLING AND INEPTITUDE” (Special to Times) u MASTERTON, Wednesday My opinion, and I know many of you will share it, is that the person responsible for such bungling and ineptitude is deserving of one thing—the sack,” said Mr R. W. Kebbell, chairman of the Wairarapa Farmers’ Union executive, when referring at a meeting to what he described as “the bungling and ineptitude” of those responsible for the impressment of motor trucks for the Army. “Moreover, he should have it handed to him immediately. If the enemy had made a sudden* landing on our coast on that Friday, then the method used would have been in order. “As it was, the work of the farmers of the district was upset, and there was an enormous waste of petrol taking unsuitable trucks down to Trentham and bringing them straight home again. The Government should know that this meeting of farmers feels very strongly in the matter, and I say that the man responsible for this glorious mess is definitely not fit to hold his position.” 40-Hour Week Evil “Out of this muddle and blundering, one aspect becomes clear, and reinforces a moral that the farming community has before made pointed remark on,” said Mr L. T. Daniell. “The Government has not hesitated to commandeer capital, primary produce or men for the fighting forces. But labour poaching goes on unchecked, and one of the failures of the Government war administration has been in this field. The 40hour week makes conditions more desirable in certain fields, and permits a definite prejudice against farming. Every industry is losing many skilled men overseas, but it is losing others by poaching and by the offers of higher pay. Yet reference to the 40-hour week is shunned. “A man may change his occupation at will or caprice. The 40-hour week situation could be overcome by any Government bold enough to act, and the poaching of skilled workers could easily be ended by making it an offence, as it is in Britain, to employ a man normally engaged in certain specified trades except through the Labour or Manpower Departments.”