The Times SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1941. Married Men Next

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 188, 9 August 1941, Page 6

The Times SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1941. Married Men Next

This week lias seen the fourth overseas ballot drawn and the last of the single men now of age called up—a total of 23,825, all the remaining single men in the land between the ages of 21 and 40 years inclusive. JS’ot all these men will be selected for training. There will be a large percentage, possibly equalling 8000 or 9000 in number, deducted as unlit for the rigours of overseas service. There will be a very small percentage of 0.0.’5. There will, however, he a considerable percentage granted sine die adjournments by appeal boards for reasons of public interest (which takes in men engaged in essential occupations), hardship and status. So meagre is the information given that the public have no opportunity of knowing for what period the men now called up will suffice to meet overseas needs. Mo information has been adequately given to tell how many men this Dominion is supposed to maintain overseas. It is generally understood that, for some mysterious reason, Mew Zealand is, on a population basis, providing about two to three or four times as many men as the other Dominions. At a rough guess, there may be 12,000 or 13,000 men available for overseas service from this fourth ballot and such a large number might well be expected 1o furnish all the overseas reinforcements required for a year to come. They may, however, suffice for six months only. Their training period before going overseas does, of course, occupy many montiis. But before this time next year, possibly by next February even, the call will come for married men. As the only Dominion with conscription for overseas service, there is here a call for more frankness from the Government as to what are its intentions regarding sending men overseas. In the light of what is made public both in Australia and Canada the plea of “necessity for secrecy” is not valid. The people of both those Dominions know just what is expected of them. Only New Zealanders are kept in ignorance. Has the Government no faith in its citizens ? A Splendid Dairy Season The annual accounts and statements of dairy companies now being published tell the story of a splendid dairy season enjoyed these past 12 months. Producers would be fortunate indeed to experience another so bountiful. The increased production granted by Nature enabled dairy companies to make over-all payments on milk and cream received, equal to those of the 193940 season despite a rise in costs, a result obtained due to higher production reducing overhead cost per ton of product. What were once termed “bonuses,” now more correctly described as “deferred payments,” will throughout the Dominion amount approximately to £2,500,000, a very considerable sum of which will be paid out in the Manawatu; estimated in the region of £250,000. This volume of payments should certainly be reflected in the business activity of the city and district. From a tabulation made it would appear that the average butter factory will pay out 16Jd per lb. of butterfat for the season, whilst the average cheese payout will be a little over 17|d. This is rather disappointing for cheese suppliers in that they will secure about a lb. less than the 2d per lb. premium they have a right to expect. This situation lends interest to a report from Australia that the new season’s British contract for Australian cheese provides for a 7s 2|d per ewt. increase. That equals a full $d a lb. on butterfat. Such an increment would greatly benefit cheese suppliers here.

The announcement that the guaranteed price for the coming season will be the same as last year and that all produce will be purchased by the New Zealand Government at this price, whether shipped or not, does assure the industry for the season now opening. At the same time it should be realised by the public that dairy farmers will still have their incomes cut, because they will have lost their export market for pig-meats and for bobby calf meat. This latter, a quite small item, will nevertheless diminish the returns of an average herd by some £6 or £7. Attention is drawn to this fact that any trend towards raising costs may be morally checked. The farmers of the Dominion are in no situation to be further loaded.