FARMERS AND THE BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3036, 24 March 1917, Page 10

FARMERS AND THE BALLOT

A WAIKATO PROTEST. ■ Bj- Telegraph—Press Association. Hamilton, March 23." At a meeting of the Waikato Comity. Council, the Frankton Council forwarded a couple of resolutions referring to the calling up of farmers, as fol-< low:— \ .■:'.■•■■,-.;.■ , ' (1) That -whilst farmers as.a class were as anxious as any other branch of the community to see a'victorious conclusion to ■ tho'.. present 1 war, this council is of opinion that the farming community- .is/being unduly depleted as compared, with, other sections of the. community, and that the military'service boards should be prepared.toisee that any farm should not be depleted of all capable labour, and should, be prepared to accept evidence from prominent representatives from each countv.of the Dominion; this council further considers that the present indiscriminate depletion of tho able-bodied farming class will shortly result in a, very serious shortago of produce for export, and will also greatly increase the present heavy cost of living. (2) That a committee be appointed to wait on the Minister of Defence to point out the serious position that has arisen in .regard to conscription of farmers under .the Military Service Act,' and that such committee should endeavour to secure: the co-operation of the Manukau, Waikato, and Raglan, County Councils in the matter. .. The, council, merely, received. the c'ora- . munication- and took no action.