FARM WORKERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 42, 29 November 1940, Page 7

FARM WORKERS.

TRAINING AS TERRITORIALS. MR. BURKETT’S SUGGESTION. (Per Press Association). • WELLINGTON. November 28. The suggestion that the Territorial training of farm workers and high country men should be done in« local camps two days a week as specialty units, and that brigade training be done in the final month,, w'as made by Mr T. D. Burnett (Opposition, Temuka) in an urgent question: to the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) in the House to-day. Mr Burnett suggested alternatively that calling up for training be deferred until June, when the wheat would be in, and the high country .flocks held in winter quarters. “If some such plan is not adopted, the ensuing wheat area will be seriously curtailed through sheer physical •inability to get the wheat in, and high country flocks will dwindle rapidly,” Mr Burnett said. _ Mr Jones replied that it was originally arranged that the mounted rifle units, to which the men in question belonged, were to train from January to March ; but on representations from farmers and the Primary. Production Council postponement for one month had been 1 decided upon. “I am prepared,” Mr Jones said, “to give consideration to the further representations of Mr Burnett, and will advise him later whether it will be practicable to adopt a plan such as lie suggests.”