SELECTION FOR FARM WORK

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 187, 6 May 1944, Page 6

SELECTION FOR FARM WORK

Men Taken Out Of Army

MINISTER’S COMMENTS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTOHURCH, May 5.

Light on the return of soldiers from the Pacific for work on farms in NewZealand was given by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. -Roberts, when he conferred with the Canterbury primary production councils. Mr Roberts asked for the assistance of the primary production councils to see that these men were absorbed in agriculture and not left kicking their heels in camps.

The Minister said the men were being selected, because of their farming experience or other qualifications, by officers of the National Service Department who had been §gnt to New Caledonia. The men would be sent back to their own farms, and prospective employers could nominate the men they would like to have directed to them. Mr. Roberts said it was intended that these men should be placed as harmoniously as possible. It thev had left farms they should go back to them. The primary production councils should assist in seeing that the men were being absorbed. That might sometimes give the councils “a bit of a headache,” but farmers should try to think of ways in which the men could.be used to increase production, for which they were being released. So far there had been only IS applications for these men in the Christchurch district—two for dairy farms, eight for sheep farms, and three for other types of farms. Mr. A. R. Turnbull interjected that the reason was that forms were not available. It was not entirely the fault ot the farmers. , . A . Mr. Roberts replied, that he was not blaming the farmers; but he had not known that forms were not available, He was trying to visualize the cutties and was conferring with them to try to find a solution. Need for Practical Plan. Mr. J. H. Grigg said there would be chaos unless there was a practical P1 ;1I JCould a farmer apply for an individual, or did he have to wait and take what was given? Nine men in the first drab had been sent to Ashburton, but only five had had actual farming experience and none of them could milk a cow. One of the others was a labourer; one had worked in a garage, and two were shop assistants. He knew of ,-0 tarm ers’ sons in the forces, many in the Pacific The Minister said that if the application forms did not make provision for farmers to nominate men, that ,could ne done by a covering letter. It might nappen, however, that the man nominated by a farmer might be further on in tne Pacific than where men were being dr Mr? W? W. Mulholland said that, cards were being distributed to the men in the Pacific to ascertain their suitability ana contained provision for the men to nominate employers for whom they wished to work. . , The Assistant Director-General of Agriculture. Mr. R. B. Tennent, said the Minister of National Service, Mr. McLagan, had said that if farmers nomin-at-•ed the men they wished to employ they would get them as far as practicable, though it might take a little longer. Mr. Roberts said that judging by what Mr. Grigg had; said, of the first draft had apparently left the Pacific before they were seen by the National bervice Department’s interviewing officers in New Caledonia. These officers were making a survey of the troops to nna out their capabilities. Actually, some men would be all right even if they had not done farm work before, Put in other cases the men would not be capable. Men were being brought, back for a special purpqpe, and the National Service Department would retain control ot them. Mr. H. M. Blazey, of the National Service Department, said that lists of the men being brought back were being prepared for circulation to manpower officers, and the Minister commented that the lists should be made available to primary production councils. Asked why men on farms were still being called up, the Minister said there was a certain time lag between the departments, blit he was doing his best to retain men on. farms. He had no control over those required for the Air Force.