LAND WORKERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 41, 27 November 1942, Page 5

LAND WORKERS

APPEAL TO ASHBURTON WOMEN VITAL NEEDS OF PRODUCTION. SPEECH BY MRS ARTHUR GRIGG. ' “We are in this fight for victory or 'for death,” said Mrs Arthur Grigg, M.P., at a meeting held at the Foresters’ Hall last evening to stimulate recruiting for the Women’s Land Service. Mrs: Grigg, and Mrs M. Dreaver, M.P. (Waitemata), have been conducting an intensive recruiting campaign for, this service throughout the Dominion.

’ “We still have a pretty difficult fight ahead of us,” Mrs Grigg went on. “The war news has been better lately, and we are glad that such is the case, but we must keep on fighting just the same for a long time yet, and we must fight harder than we have ever fought before.”

Many people were inclined to regard pleas for increased production as a waste of time, considering that even if production declined there would always be enough l to eat. That was quite true, but it Was a selfish point of view, and was not the spirit that won wars. Comparing such outlooks with those adopted' in war-torn Great Britain, Mrs Grigg said that the people there were showing Wonderful spirit. Every section of the community was taking a turn at doing their bit to help win the war. Have .Failed So far. “Great Britain needs every ounce of help we can give her,” said Mrs Grigg, “and the food that we can grow in this country is a vital factor. There are, of course, lots more things that We have got to do —we have to feed our own population, and the men in military camps in this country. It mast be admitted, however, that we have failed even to do this. Those people with friends or relatives in camps Will remember that some time ago there were some pretty strong remarks about the shortage of potatoes.”

Admittedly, the fighting forces needed a great quantity of potatoes, but New Zealand should be able to supply their needs, not only in potatoes, but in all other primary produce. Another obligation upon the country was to. provide food for the American forces that were here, and fighting in the Solomon Islands, where the climate made it imperative that they be kept supplied in foods to enable them to withstan its, rigors.

Women Prove Their Worth.

Women had already proved their worth in other war-winning activities which sceptics had said that they would never master, and they were now being asked to extend their activities in a direction! which was just as important a step on the road to victory as any other. About ten months ago, a service known as the Women’s Land Corps had been inaugurated, but it had been poorly organised, and the members had been inadequately equipped, while their services had not been given the recognition which they deserved. Throughout New Zealand, only 140 girls had enlisted in this service.

Besides being issued with an attractive dress uniform, members of the new organisation were given a working outfit consisting of overalls, drill shirts, farm boots, oilskin coats, leggings and sou’-westers, and flannellineal leather jackets. Attempts had been made to include gumboots in the outfits, but this had not been possible, and consideration was being given to the issue of heavy clogs. After one month’s service on a farm, a girl was entitled to apply for her dress uniform. Her application must, however, be signed by her employer to show ■that he was satisfied with her services. After a reasonable period, the uniforms would be replaced free. This was considered a reasonable proposition, in view of the fact that the uniforms cost about £2O. It had at first been intended that a girl working on her father’s farm or a relative’s farm would not be issued with a working outfit, but this had brought forth many protests, and such girls were now entitled to uniforms as well as any others. Scale of Wages Paid. Wages were grouped under two headings—those for dairy farm workers, and those for general farm workers. These were in turn subdivided into trained and untrained personnel Trained dairy farm workers were paid £2 Ss 6d a week, and untrained workers £1 16s. This included board, or an additional cash payment, oi £1 a week in lieu thereof. Tax had to be paid. The farmers’ point of view, that girls might not bo satisfactory at the beginning, had also been taken care. o’, and in cases where untrained g’.rls were taken on, the farmers were allowed a subsidy of £1 a . week toward their wages for three months, and a subsidy of 12s 6d a week for a further three months, after which time it was felt that the girls should be competent.

Many farmers appeared a little prejudiced about taking girls on to their farms, but, said Mrs Grigg, she had yet to hear of one case where a girl taken on to a farm had failed to give satisfaction. She quoted a case where a flock of 3000 breeding, owes had been divided between the manager of a farm and the only other person on the place, a land girl, and the girl had brought her half of tlio flock through the lambing season with flying colours. Also, there were cases where girls who volunteered for service on the land would be removing a great burden from the shoulders of farmers’ wives, who were trying to do their housework,

and at the same time trying to do work on the farm.

The method of enrolment was simple, and could be effected either with the Women’s War Service Auxiliary, the District Manpower Officer, or the Primary Production Council. Girls aged from 18 years upwards were eligible, but if under 21, they must have the consent of their parents. - A special emergency regulation had been introduced, affording them the right of rehabilitation. “Must Not Delude Ourselves.” “Let us not delude ourselves into thinking that Russia will take care of the Germans, and that America will deal with the Japanese,” said Mrs Grigg, concluding her appeal. “Victory is by no means yet won. We must not forget that we are up against one of the most formidable arrays of force the world has ever seen. Let- us he able to say, when the day of victory ■comes, that we who wore left behind did not fail to do our part.” The widespread interest created by Mrs Grigg’s appeal was evidenced by the large attendance, which included a good proportion of men. The Mayor (Dr. J. Connor) said he was sure that the women of Ashburton would respond readily to Mrs Grigg’s appeal, and a veto of thanks was moved by the chairman of the Mid-Canterbury Primary Production Council (Mr H. C. E. Witiiell).