MORE LABOUR FOR FARMS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23747, 19 September 1942, Page 4

MORE LABOUR FOR FARMS

ASSURANCE FROM MINISTER

MR POLSON TO VISIT SOUTH ISLAND

(P.S.S.) WELLINGTON Sept. 18. There has been some apprehension created in the South Island among farmers about the labour position in regard to. the appeal for more production, and the Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes (the Hon. W. ,J. Poison) was asked to-night to clear up the position. He stated that the alarm was unjustified, although, of course, everybody realised that with so many men in the Army there must be a substantial labour shortage. He was satisfied, however, that enough men would be found to deal with the cropping programme, including the sowing of the extra crops desired and the subsequent harvesting of them and also that sufficient men would be released to enable shearing to be carried through. He said it would entail demands upon all sources of supply of agricultural labour, including the Army, but, while the defence of the country was of paramount importance, the Army would co-operate and provide men on leave from time to time where essential work could not otherwise be carried out. It would require the sympathetic help of Primary Production Councils and committees to enable this to be done with a minimum of disturbance of the Army’s training of its troops, but the Minister felt that such help would be forthcoming. He intended to proceed south next week to discuss the matter with the production councils.