The Press FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1942 Release of Farm Labour

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23764, 9 October 1942, Page 4

The Press FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1942 Release of Farm Labour

When the executive of the Canterbury Progress League discussed manpower organisation this week, Mr 'R. T. McMillan said the problem was “ being dealt with now.” It has been “ dealt with ” for more than three years, however; and the question is still wide open whether the new deal is being so thoroughly planned and so vigorously handled that defects still obvious are likely to be rapidly overcome. The discussion was admirably broad. As chairman of the agricultural committee, for example, Mr D. W. Westenra courageously let it be seen that he has known farmers to make unreasonable complaints and selfish demands, and urged upon them the more resourceful use of labour available, including that of boys and girls. In the same fair spirit, he suggested that the production councils might have been more active in the organisation of farm labour and in informing farmers about it. Again, the question of the cost of training rural units of the Home Guard, which is paid in the loss of productive effort, was reasonably raised. But from whatever direction the problem of manpower organisation is approached, the need is disclosed for efficient classification as the basis of any solution, even of partial or sectional solution. The want of it has been proved in many ways. It is nowhere more evident than in the still confused improvisations by which the supply of farm labour is supposed to be maintained. When Mr Poison set himself to repair a disastrous situation, he was obliged to improvise, too. System was to emerge from his improvements: essential farm labour was to be “ sorted out.” After three months it became clear that Mr Poison’s effort had failed. It would probably be fairer to him to say that it had been frustrated. The chairman of the Waikato Council of Primary Production, on September 29, describing the “ desperate state ” of Waikato farmers, said that his council did not ask for men in the 21-41 age group; it had asked for a list of other men in the Army, competent and willing to undertake farm work. "That list was not “forthcoming,” he said. A week later, the chairman of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production said that, although representations had been made to the military authorities, “ nothing had been “ done ” to form a pool of lowergrade men who could be released to replace higher-grade men called for service. These are plain statements. They describe a situation in which somewhere, somehow, the rational measures necessary to use the country’s totdl resources to the best possible advantage are being blocked. The Government can, and must, transform that situation. Whatever stands in the way, or whoever stands in the way, must be swept out*of it.