Labour For Farms

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 13

Labour For Farms

Sir, —Having listened carefully to the broadcast of Mr. Savage on Sunday evening, I should like to make a few remarks in connexion therewith. The Prime Minister said that “approximately 4000 men were now employed clearing land with a view to increasing production.” There was a good deal more in this strain, and I would like to imprests on Mr. Savage that it will be a long time before such efforts meet with an “increase in production.” It takes a long time to bring land into Tiroduction, to make it. tit for sheep or cattle. AU the bulldozers, angledozers, treedozers in New Zealand today will not make that laud fruitful for wool or butter for a very long period.

What is needed to help Britain is labour on the farms today—not two years lienee. Every farmer in the country will do his best to increase supplies to England, but it is not done by boasting over a monopolized radio, nor by putting men, even 4900 of them, on to deteriorated laud. Mr. Savage goes on to say that “he hopes to have double Hurt, number on such work at this time next year.” Well, is Britain needing our produce now, or is it next year that it will be needed? No, Mr. Savage, we are not. all unable to think for ourselves, not- lulled into slumber by plausible talk, even though you appear to regard I be people's wireless system as the particular property of your parly. It is quite time you acknowledged that production cannot be increased till the thousands on public works are drafted to farms so that, tile cows can be milked today, not 12 mon His hence.

In conclusion, I should like to ask where lire those thousands of men, of whom you. and Air. Webb, Are frequently speaking? J. cannot find anyone who can tell me where they are employed, —I am, etc., A PRACTICAL PARMER NOAV RETIRED—I should be, 1 am 78 years of age. Wellington, December 11.