FARMERS WILLING

Evening Star, Issue 25170, 9 May 1944, Page 8

FARMERS WILLING

LOCAL GRIEVANCES WON'T HINDER PRODUCTION OPPOSITION LEADER'S IMPRESSIONS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 8, ■ " I have been greatly encouraged by the splendid response to my appeals for increased production," said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, to-day. Mr Holland returned to Wellington on Saturday night after a comprehensive tour of the north. Mr Holland said he approached the production problem from the point of view of Britain's peril- rather than from the more, local or narrow view of local politics, subsidies, bonuses, etc., and everywhere ha found the producers only too anxious to help Britain by producing to the maximum of which they were capable. Everywhere the farmers said they wanted a lead from eomeone in authority as to the best way of helping Britain. What was badly needed was a local plan to be handled by the primary production councils, in which a system of targets for different commodities und a list of priorities were laid down foi the guidance of the production councils and the farmers. Mr Holiand_ said the burning question among the dairy farmers in the north was cum boots. He had investigated several cases where women were working on dairy farms in their bare feet. Ordinary boots were useless, and gum boots in some instances were unprocurable. Gum boots were just as essential to the dairy industry as a lathe was to an engineer, and production could not be increased without them. The farmers urged that until ample supplies were available the dairy factories should be asked to see that there was an equitable distribution. Man power was also a burning question, and Mr Holland suggested that farmers should have the right to nominate men in the army for return to farm work, as it was not practicable to send a strange man to share accommodation with a farmer's family. Fertiliser was another important question. Referring to the large number of farmers' problems he had had placed before him, Mr Holland said he had had frequent long-distance discussions ,with the Acting Prime Minister, Mr Sullivan, who was most anxious to be kept fully informed. On a number of occasions they were able to get quick decisions on problems on which he made representations to Mr Sullivan. Mr Holland said he had been shown over large areas suitable for soldier settlement, but he stressed the need for proper planning and supervision by practical men with local knowledge. There was a large defence area north of Auckland that should be made available for dairying purposes. There were four houses and three milking sheds in the area, and he had heard of two experienced farmers, one of them on furlough from the Middle East, who could make a start there'. The area was not now being used for defence purposes. He had approached Mr Sullivan about it,' and the matter was being investigated.