“AN INCOMPLETE LIST”

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23538, 16 January 1942, Page 4

“AN INCOMPLETE LIST”

♦ FARMING AN ESSENTIAL

INDUSTRY

STATEMENT BY MR W. W. MULHOLLAND s . The reason why farming was omitted from the list of essential industries which appeared in “The Press" on Wednesday was attributed yes* terday by Mr W. W. MW* Holland (president of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union) to the list being ‘‘very obviously incomplete.” He said that just a few industries which needed attention right away had been included, and expressed the opinion that very soon a complete and more carefully analysed list of essential industries would be furthcoming. ... “If this docs not take place it wu* be just a wash-out.” said Mr Mulhor land, “but it is fairly certain that tn* Government does intend to go ahMfl and prepare a complete list, and «* that list farming must appear.” Mr Mulholland alleged that in ®e present, catalogue many sections could not be classed as essential to war ecd' nomy. “It does not represent a studied list at all,” he added. . “I can give no reason whatever vny farming was not included," said wr R. G. Bishop (president of the Nor® Canterbury branch of the Farmer* Union), stating that of all the indul* tries in New Zealand it was surely d®* of the most essential. Farming tw* an industry which certainly should have been included, he added. . With the recent mobilisation, said »r Bishop; labour on farms had bpeh pleted to a tremendous extent. #0“ ** had become practically impossible ® get a man for harvest. Nearly all w* farmers he knew were working shorthanded.