THRASHING MILL-OWNERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3135, 13 July 1917, Page 8

THRASHING MILL-OWNERS

DBI'UTAHON TO MINISTER OJ? MUNITIONS. A' Idoputntion representing Hie tluasliinp; 'mill-ownera of thft AVairarnpa distric,, interviewed tho Sfinistor of SlunitkliA (Hon. A. Jl. Myers) yesterday uftcriKKiia 'I'he del«giites woro introduced by l\% .r. T. M. ITornsby (Wairarapa), who UJifilaincd that tlie thrashing mill-owners difirpd to have the position , of then- iih (hi'stry defined in relation to recruiting. Already thcro was a serious'shortage ot •i/l;illed workers for tho thrashing nulls, ll'ie wliolo of last season'e crop had lot jot lreen handled by tho mills, :iiid tlie ip'raspects for tho new season had to bo jittnsidcrcd. If tho drain vpon ilio industry continued, tho thrashing jnMls would liavo to bo laid up. Tho trouble :'was accentuated by tho heavy planting /of wheat in Canterbury, which would liavo no men to sparo for work in the North Tsland. Air. W. J. IKokey (Solv,7ii) s:n<l tho position in Canterbury was alt-o mnilc. The fanners had been ur?ed to £ro\r wheat, and Iho retention o£ skilled workers for the thrashing mills was essential. Tho Minister said that the wholo question of conserving labour for essential industries would bo considered by Cabinet within tho next few days. Tlo would place the representations "f Iho deputation before his colleagues in Ihc Ministry-

Tl)o deputation subsequently interviewed Sir Joseph Ward, who said that tl.o GoYornipent would not loso si?ht of the necessities of tho farming community.