PRODUCTION COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1943, Page 2

PRODUCTION COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN RE-ELECTED

The general conference bf delegates to the West Coast Council pi Primary Production concluded m Greymouth yesterday afternoon, when miscellaneous business was considered. By a unanimbus vote Mr D. B. Jellie, of Arahura, was reelected Chairman, no other candidate , being proposed. , . . i Mr Jellie, vacating the chair for 1 the election, thanked ail members of committees for the amicable manner in which they had worked with him. They had given wonderful service with no remuneration apart from small expenses. The members of the Council, too, had co-operated excellently, and he particularly thanked Mr J. Mulcare (secretaryorganiser) and Mr G. G. M. Mitchell (Manpower Officer) for their encouragement a’nd practical assistance 1 Mr W. Clayton moved that Mr Jellie again hoid office. He had wide experience and was capable, being i “the right man for the job.” 1 Mr H. G. Carter seconded the motion, paying a tribute to Mr Jellie s ' unsparing efforts for the Council. i Mr Mitchell referred to the able manner in which Mr Jellie had car- , ried out his representations to the Armed Forces Appeal Board. I Mr N. B. McCallum referred to Mr 1 Jellie as “a chairman of balance.” I The motion was carried unanim- ! ously, Mr Jellie thanking the meet--1 ing for its confidence. i On the motion of Mr Mitchell, seconded by Mr P. J. O’Regan, it was decided to make representations to the National Council that District Committees have the power to nominate substitute members of District Councils. , J i Mr W. Dalziel wrote, stating that i dissatisfaction was felt that Kotuku was not represented on the Otira Valley District Council with Inchbonnie and Rotomanu. The district desired Ito have one representative on the * ComiTiitf su. j Mr W. Vailance (Rotomanu) said ! Kotuku were represented at the recent meeting at Rotomanu, .but apparently the wrong man was put in. Mr Mulcare said Mr Dalziel had been one of the unsuccessful contenders for office at the meeting.

Mr Vailance thought the application had been prompted by a little petty spite, which would blow over in a short time.

It was decided to “receive” the letter.

APPEAL BOARD REVIEWS

The Kokatahi-Koiterangi District Committee forwarded the following remit:—“That, in view of the wastage of tyres, petrol and labour involved in obtaining reports respecting appeals to the Armed Forces Appeal Board, these be dispensed with in all cases of review where the particulars are substantially the same, and that the duplicate of the previous report be used.” Mr F. C. Mcirshall sponsored the remit, stating that in many cases there was no difference in the information obtained between the first and subsequent visits of the Council representatives to farms. Mr M. Minehan seconded the motion for the adoption of the remit. Mr Jellie said the position had been represented to the Armed Forces Board in Greymouth, which had agreed that in cases of farmers’ appeals under review, declarations witnessed by a J.P. could be handed, in to obviate the appellant attending the hearing. In the KokatahiKoiterangi district, he suggested, a check on earlier information could be obtained by telephone. The remit was adopted without dissent.

Mr W. H. Martin (Westport) referred to the fact that a great deal of land in his district was going back owing to superficial manure not being applied, due to the shortage of labour. It had been suggested that a tractor and tractor-mower be obtained for general use, which would considerably help farmers. He thought a similar machirie would be valuable in the Grey district, and suggested that representations be made to the Government for assistance in securing the jplant, which would cost £3OO to £4OO. Such a machine could be operated by the County Council and would be of value on recreation areas and for dealing with ragwort on roadsides. He urged that endeavours be made to secure a machine.

Mr Jellie supported the proposal, which he believed would boost the production of any district. If the Government placed machines in districts under the charge of one man, and with ploughs and harrows, "the whole lot would not cost more than £5OO. That had been his idea, but it had fallen through. He seconded the motion.

Mr O’Regan commmented that in Canterbury piece work of this type was possible when farms abutted farms, but on the Coast farming was on a different basis. Time would be eaten up going from one farm to another over long distances. If they wanted to get the job done the dearest possible way, then they should get the Government to do it! Such a plan would be impracticable. Mr Martin thought that if machinery could not do a job it could not be done at all. The Engineer of the Buller County Council had given him encouragement in his proposal. Mr Carter said farmers were keen to get rid of tneir produce on a cooperative system. What was to prevent co-operation for production under the present economy? A central directorate could administer the scheme, which he thought was the onto possible method of participating in. the machine age. Mr Mitchell moved and Mr O’Regan seconded, that the Government be asked to purchase a mower for the Buller district, and this was carried.