PRIMARY PRODUCTION COMMITTEES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23740, 11 September 1942, Page 3

PRIMARY PRODUCTION COMMITTEES

■ 1 —♦ FARMERS’ UNION SEEKS REPRESENTATION The position of the Farmers’ Union in relation to the local Primary Production Committee, was the principal matter discussed at a meeting of the Geraldine Farmers’ Union. Regret was expressed that in the reorganisation of the district committees the Farmers’ Union had not been consulted although, in the previous year, the chairman of the union had convened his own primary production committee. , , Mr R. E. Mclllwrick considered that the union had a just claim to be represented and suggested that Mr R. A. Bruce, the president, should be a member of the committee ex officio. Mr Mclllwrick suggested that probably the fact which caused most dissatisfaction was that all inquiries of the Primary Production Committee were held in camera, and the recommendations of the committee carried weight with the Armed Forces Appeal Board. He considered that all appeals against service should be heard by the board where all evidence was given on oath. He said that there were some glaring instances which should be reviewed where men had been released for farm work and other cases in which release had been refused. There seemed to be no consistent attitude on the pari of the authorities. No doubt when the Primary Production Committee assiimed its full responsibilities many irregularities would be straightened out. Hie secretary reported that he had been in communication with the secretary of the South Canterbury Primary Production Council and that the representation of the union on the district committee would be referred to the chairman (Mr W. S. Crotty).