FARM LABOUR AND ARMY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23748, 21 September 1942, Page 3

FARM LABOUR AND ARMY

SOUTH CANTERBURY VIEWS Farm labour and its relationship to Army requirements was the main topic of discussion at last week's meeting of the South Canterbury Primary Production Council. The secretary (Mr A. B. Struthers) explained the. functions of the district committees and the armed forces appeal boards, and referred to instructions recently issued at Wellington about the release from the Army of single grade I men between the ages of 21 and 41. The council considered that, because of the increasing demands of the Army, urgent representations should be made to the Minister of Primary Production (the Hon. W. J. Poison) about releasing shearers and musterers. It was the council’s opinion that there should be more co-operation among the National Service Department, the Army, and those connected with primary production. Members agreed that there was an urgent need for a definite policy on the part o" the Government regarding primary production, that the requirements should be declared, and that the Government should undertake to provide the necessary labour to meet these requirements. There appeared to be* a need for co-ordination among the various Government departments, and it was considered essential that one Minister should be placed in charge, so that his decisions could then be regarded as authoritative. The secretary said that he' had requested the Minister to ‘meet representatives of the primary production councils, in an endeav; ur to clarify the labour position. Advice had been received from the Minister that he would attend a meeting at Dunedin next week. The following delegates were appointed to. meet the Minister for a discussion of the labour position: Messrs L. V. Talbot (chairman, South Canterbury Primary Production Council), A. J. Davey (district representative on the National Council of Primary Production), W. J. Fletcher (chairman, Waimate Primary Production Council), J. G. Leckie (secretary, General. Labourers’ Union), and A. B. Struthers.