SERIOUS POSITION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 184, 5 July 1945, Page 5

SERIOUS POSITION

OPIKI CROP GROWERS. The serious position facing onion and potato growers in the Opiki district was placed before the Manawatu District Council of Primary Production today by a deputation of those concerned.

In welcoming the deputation. Air B. E. Keiller (chairman) said he? knew they had just experienced one of the worst seasons on record. The council appreciated what the growers had done in the face of great difficulties. Next season the American authorities wanted from this district another 4000 tons of potatoes and an additional area of 700 acres of onions planted. The council would do all it could to assist the growers in this-’ programme. ' Afr S. Claridge. a member of the deputation, said one of the most important- things concerning them was ishour: the position this year had been chaotic. The system under which soldiers worked there should he altered' and the men allowed to work at the same rate of pay as the other employees. The men should be given leave without pay to do this. The growers were also making representations to the Department of Agriculture regarding grading. As to root', growth, the crops were condemned if one per cent, had this growth. There had been only 3 per cent, of rotten onions, which was very low. He suggested that they lie allowed 6 per cent, over all. An increase of £2 per ton in the price of onions was,, also required. There was, in addition, the problem of Alston housing. The position had got to the stage where they did not know what was going to happen. Air Keiller said they could not discuss the question of price; it did not' come within the province of the council.

Air Clarid go said that a lot of the farmers would just “pack up” if matters were not remedied and whole areas, would be put down in grass. They' had obtained better prices prior to the war than they were getting now. Air E. AY. Cowdrey, a member of the council, suggested that a number of', soldiers should be demobilised and manpowered to the growers. They would then receive the full rates of pay and have a greater incentive to work. Air A. Gillespie said the majority of the soldiers had worked well. The Army could let the soldiers work under . contract while still retaining control. ■ -

Air AleDonakl contended that the Army was just as much interested in" the growing of crops as the average civilian, and it should co-operate in every way. NO LABOUR AA 7 AII,ABLE..

The District Manpower Officer (Air L. > W. Cozens) said it was obvious that liis oltice would not be able to supply the labour for Opiki and it would be necessary to use soldier labour again next year. He suggested that a sub committee be set--up at once by the council to approach the National Service Department regarding the provision of labour. Concrete proposals should be placed before the Army Department. Air W. H. Hall moved that the subcommittee be formed and this was seconded by Air C. E. A r ile. Air Aitchison said the committee would have a full-time job to consider the problem at Opiki. Some scheme should be evolved whereby soldiers could receive full pay for their work. T! was hopeless to expect the work to be done for 7s a day. Tito motion was carried and the_ committee. consisting of Alcssrs Keillor, Aitchison. L. F. Ballinger and the secretary (Air P. Larcomb). was set up. Air Cowdrey suggested that in the approach to the department the matter oflabour for wheat harvesting also be brought up. Air A’ile said Hie council should support the deputation in its efforts to obtain a 6 per cent, tolerance in the grading. Mr 11. Christmas suggested that a New Zealand grading should apply to onions and potatoes separate from which the Americans insisted upon. The mor-,' : chants had supported the growers in the request for the 6 per cent, overall allowaneo.

Mr A 7 ilc moved a motion on the lincshe bad suggested and this was carried. The motion will be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture. Air Gillespie said the Opiki area was now producing more onions bad been grown in the whole of New Zealand prior to the war. Application bad been made for 41 C class dwellings. The position at Opiki was no worse than it was in many other places. It was not practicable to erect permanent dwellings. The C class bouses would solve the problem. If the houses were not provided several growers would have to go cut of business; they could not afford to erert | permanent buildings. He could not lot the occasion pass without paying a strong tribute to the Afaori workers for tlie manner .in which they bad worked. The chairman was appointed io attend a meeting which is being held at Opiki todav to discuss the position. | Air Keillor assured the deputation of the I council's support in the matters discussed.