LABOUR FOR FARMS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23754, 28 September 1942, Page 4

LABOUR FOR FARMS

PREPARATION OP CROPS

NECESSARY MEN TO BE RELEASED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. The Minister of National Service *the Hon. W. J. Broadfoot) in an interview stated that he and the Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes (the Hon. W. J. Poison) had discussed the question of farm labour with the War Cabinet, which had agreed that the /labour necessary to meet the commitments of primary producers for the preparation and planting of crops would continue to be found. In the event of other labour being unavailable, the Army would be directed to release on 40 days’ leave such men as the appeal board determined would be urgently required for this work.

Mr Broadfoot added that such releases would not include Grade 1 men between 21 and 41 years attached to overseas units or personnel in the Army Tank Brigade. Inhere men nominated by the employer were unavailable, arrangements would be made to supply alternative labour. When other labour was unavailable, the Army would release shearers, shed hands, pressers, and musterers' for seasonal operations. The men would be released from the Army for harvesting in the same way as last year.