BLOW TO PRODUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 121, 24 May 1945, Page 6

BLOW TO PRODUCTION

CALL-UP OF FARM WORKERS P.A. AUCKLAND, May 23. Resentment at the recent call-up of farm workers for military service was expressed at the annual provincial conference of the New Zealand farmers' Union today. The chairman, Mr. H. M. Rushworth, said that if the men went there would be a drop in production of at least 25 per cent.

"No previous action has knocked production so badly as this call-up has done," said Mr. W. W. Mulholland, Dominion president. No explanation of the necessity for the call-up had been given, and farmers had not been communicated with to inform them that there was real need for such a great sacrifice. If there was a vital need for men to be taken the farmers would do their best without them. Unfortunately, they were not satisfied with that position, in the light of the lack of information on the subject. L From "inside" knowledge it appeared that there had been a lack of consideration of the matter before the instructions were issued. Mr. Mulholland added that he had done everything possible to get the Government to reconsider the postition, and he was not satisfied that such an important question had received the consideration it merited.

A resolution was carried drawing the Government's attention to the effect the call-up would have on the primary producing industy.