PRIMARY PRODUCTION COUNCIL

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

PRIMARY PRODUCTION COUNCIL

MEETING AT ASHBURTON An application by a shearer for a motor tyre could not be granted as shearers were not on the priority list, stated a letter from the Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes (the Hon. W. J. Poison) received at a meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Primary Production Council at Ashburton. Mr R. Oakley said that if shearers were placed on the supply list and granted tyres for travelling between they would be able to secure tyres for ’.heir seasonal work while farmers could not obtain tyres. Mi R. B. Tennent, Director of Primary Production, wrote asking for accurate details of the pioposed potato planting programme of all farmers in the Ashburton County. Mr G. K. McPherson, instructor for the Department of Agriculture, said that he had prepared a questionnaire asking farmers what acreage of potatoes they intended to sow, and what acreage they would sow if table potatoes were made available for planting. The scheme was approved. A further letter from Mr Tennent stated that tyres would probably be available for secretary organisers of councils, but not for members. A number of members said that they were not prepared to carry on if tyres were not available, and it was decided to write to Mr Tennent that the organisation would break down if tyres could not be obtained. Mr T. V. Wilkinson said the farmers had been asked to increase production, but it seemed. that production would decline because insufficient numbers of tractors-drivers were being released by the Army. He added that all grade 111 men in the Army and non-essential industries should be drafted to a labour corps, where they could be trained and posted, for primary production work.