FARM WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 10, 13 January 1941, Page 9

FARM WORKERS

WINTER TRAINING

SCHEME NOT PRACTICABLE

MINISTER'S VIEW

Difficulties in the way of arranging for men engaged in primary production to undergo their three months' Territorial training in the winter months are referred to by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) in his reply to a resolution forwarded to him from the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union.

The Dominion executive, in its communication to the Minister, pointed out that it was in favour of holding training camps for Territorials, but, in view of the disruption of farm routine and hampering of production by the drafting: of' primary producers: into training cam£>s at inopportune times of-the year, it "urged that winter camps should be

arranged and that trainees be allowed to nominate the period most suitable to go into camp.

camps," states the Minister in his reply, "are scarcely practicable, in that weather conditions would interfere with training, and to get the same results as obtain under -the present arrangements of three months a much long period would be required, due to shorter hours of daylight, loss of daylight saving, etc..;...,

"The nomination by trainees of the period, most suitable to undertake their training is definitely not workable. The position would- arise of trainees nominating different times of training, with a consequent lack of co-ordination of training on a defined schedule. It is pointed out also that the success of our training scheme must largely depend upon the maintenance of some form of military discipline and control, which would obviously be lost were the men allowed to please" .themselves as to when arid how they attended camps. The numbers who attend camps must be determined by the military authorities, as such questions is camp accommodation, and equipment for training available,- and various other matters appertaining to training have to be taken into consideration."

The Minister also pointed out that the farmers' representations were met as far as possible. For instance, the training of mounted rifle units in the North. Island had been postponed for one month, from early January, to February. Similarly, intensive training due to end on December 31 last had been terminated on December 21 to assist the haymaking position by releasing farm labour. There were also available to farmers the usual channels of appeal on the ground of undue hardship.