Young Farmers And War Effort

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 121, 23 May 1940, Page 9

Young Farmers And War Effort

NON-ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES TO CEASE Tho part that the Young Farmers’ movement should play in the war was discussed when the annual meeting was held yesterday of the Wellington District Council embracing an area from Poverty Bay and Taranaki to Wellington. Air. E. W. Barnett, the chairman, thought young farmers should decide for themselves in which sphere of war activities they could be of most use. It was all very well enlisting, but it might bo better for tho farmer to sta}' at home to increase primary production. If the individual thought ho would pull bigger weight as a primary producer, lie should make his decision and stick to it. Air. A. Lawson (Kimbolton): It appears to mo that the need for more produce for the purpose of feeding our troops is increasing all the time. Air. Feircabend: If wc are going to take this up seriously as we should, we should cut down our council meetings, thereby saving valuable time which could be put in on the farm. It would be another day’s production for good old England. Air. P. O. Veale (South Taranaki): I think we should abandon every activity of an unessential nature. Young farmers can help to increase production. Our motto is going to be, ‘Get on with the war.* I will move that this council recommends to its committees the abolition of all non-essential activities for the period of the war and to concentrate on increasing production. The chairman: What do you mean by non-essential activities. Air. Veale: Educational tours and weeks. Air. L. Feiereabend seconded the motion. Air. Iv. Alitchell (Woodville) thought the motion should include competitions, stocking judging and dog trials. The suggestion was- incorporated in an amendment. Air. N, Samson (Taranaki) consider-

cd the young fanners would do all they could to help with the war effort, but he was afraid that it would be wrong if all field days were dropped during the war. Mr. H. Jordan (New Plymouth): The thing for us to decide is whether men are moro important to the Empire’s war effort than increased production. Mr. Veale: The men who have gone away in the fighting services have made big sacrifices, and it is up to us to make big sacrifices to help in the war effort. i The chairman: I certainly favour cutting out some of our activities, but I claim that we have to get knowledge it" we are to help in our Avar effort. I consider that stock judging is an essential and we must keep that channel of knowledge open. To increase production you must have increased knowledge. Cut out non-essentials but keep everything that is part of our job. Wo must keep the life in the Young Farmers’ movement. | The amendment was lost and the I motion was carried unanimously s'