MEN FROM ARMY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 248, 17 July 1942, Page 4

MEN FROM ARMY

Building Up Primary

7 Production MINISTER’S ANSWERS TO FARMERS “We will have to take men from the Army because there is nowhere else we can get them and we hope to build up farm production by bringing back to primary industry essential men now in the Army,” said the Minister of Primary Production for War Purposes. Mr. Polson, when he addressed the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in Wellington yesterday. It was important that these things be done at once, he said.

Mr. Polson said that they had one aim, and one aim only—that was to curry on farm production in a way that would contribute to the winning of the war. While they might be asked to make sacrifices, farmers would not be asked to. do anything unreasonable. Besides making provision for additional war demands, New Zealand must continue to export as much as possible in order to maintain the country’s economy. “The first problem is manpower,” said Mr. Polson. “We cannot carry on production unless we do something about'manpower, and we are getting on with that job.” He had pointed out to the War Cabinet that a balance must be struck between civil and Army requirements. He had recommended the pegging of manpower on the farms. Cabinet had said they would peg manpower and would get back from the Army men necessary to carry out the programme of farm production. “We sent word to the Army to return all men who are farmers or farm workers,” he continued. “Here there was another difficulty. In many cases the men do not want to go back, aud the responsibility is on the Army to send them back. It is causing some consternation in the Army, and some officers say that it will deplete their strength by 50 per cent. My answer to that is that if half of their men are farmers, then there are far too many farmers in the Army.” Replies to Questions.

Mr. Polson replied to many questions.

To Mr. C. D. Dickie, Hawera, he said that in large districts the production councils had power to set up committees to assist them. These could make recommendations for the councils to act upon. There would ‘be anomalies in the production councils’ scheme, but the National Council would sift complaints and rectify anomalies as fast as it could.

Regarding farmers and farm workers in independent mounted rifles reserve units, he said, it would be the responsibility of the district production council to decide whether they should be recommended for return to their farms. In war they had to do many unpleasant things, and it was possible they would have to do more in the next year or so.

To Mr. A. 11. COombe, Springdale, Mr. Polson replied that the milking of cows could not be considered during a crisis period such as an invasion. They could not hold back men to milk cows when they were needed to fight invaders.

Mr. Sexton, Auckland:: Nor should they be In the cities doing E.P.S. work. Replying to Mr. A. C. Cameron, Otago, Mr. Polson said that the Army would send men back to the land. Labour would not be conscripted. On the other hand, a man would not be allowed to refuse a national duty. Corn sacks depended on Australian shipping, but the Minister concerned believed adequate supplies would be available.

He did not consider the elimination of appeals for men possible, but regarding the release of men, the Director of Mobilization had definite instructions to give urgent priority to requests from the Production Council. He hoped for an immediate answer to nearly every case. Gumboot Shortage.

To Mr. J. J. Maher, Mr. Polson said the gumboot shortage could not be overcome. There was not enough rubber for tyres. Everything was being done for rubber parts for milking machines, and it was hoped this would cover the dairy-farmer for a substantial period. Nevertheless, farmers would be wise to take good care of all the rubber they had. For gumboots, clogs would provide a suitable substitute, and would be made available. There were 15,000 pairs of gumboots in the country, including children’s, of which 8000 pairs suitable for farmers were still in reserve. He did not know who would get these and would not like the job of distribution.

To a question concerning the difficulty of getting men out of camp who had been directed by appeal boards to do only three months’ training, Mr. Polson replied that the decision would not rest with the man. He would be transferred to the reserve. He would have certain duties to do which would entitle him to wear his uniform on these occasions. This would assist to overcome the objection of young farmers and farm workers to being seen about in civilian clothes while their mates were in uniform. ' The conference recorded this resolution: —“The union views with concern the drawing of skilled labour from farms. To correct the position it recommends that the Army arrange for the formation of a reserve corps of skilled personnel who have undergone military training and would be made available for urgent primary production. It also considers that every case should lx? reviewed."