AID FOR FARMERS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3159, 19 August 1942, Page 5

AID FOR FARMERS

EVENT OF MOBILISATION ASSISTANCE FOR PLAINS CARRYING ON IN EMERGENCY At last week’s meeting of the Thames Primary Production Council, the Thames Borough Commissioner, Mr A. L. Burk, was called upon to -address the members. Mr Burk spoke on the “Aid for Farmers” scheme which, he said, had been operating successfully in the Morrinsville district. On his visit to the district on E.P.'S. duties, the scheme had struck him as a fine effort on behalf of the sponsors. The scheme becomes active in the event of an alarm mobilisation, when land production would be endangered by the drain of manpower. The district was divided into equal allotments of six farms each; a survey of manpower .in each district was made; the men who would not for medical reasons be called up in the event of a mobilisation alarm were the ones to look after the farms; three of the best farms were picked out and the ineligible men attended to the herds on these farms. Troops Must Be Fed “Most of you men are farmers,” said, Mr Burk, “and therefore you know that herds must be looked after. Our troops must be fed and if the

herds are neglected and consequently ruined, New Zealand production will drop considerably and take some pulling back to normal. “I would very much like to see the ‘Aid for Farmers’ scheme extended to the Hauraki Plains. Another time it could be put into effect is in the event of influenza epidemic, ■when the drain on manpower and womanpower would be dangerous. “The sponsors of this scheme are deserving of a lot of credit, and I intend to seek the co-operation of bodies on the Plains and to begin the scheme there. “We must have manpower. That is gradually being realised throughout the country, and that is the principal reason these production councils are being set up . Mr S. E. Hall informed Mr Burk that the Thames Primary Production 'Council would be with him 100 per cent.