Seek Free Transport For Farm Workers

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1940, Page 6

Seek Free Transport For Farm Workers

[Special to “Northern Advocate”] AUCKLAND, This Day.

That the Government should provide transport for men on No. 13 scheme who were prepared to take work on farms, was the text of a motion moved by Mr H. O. Melsopp at today’s meeting of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production, when the Placement Officer at Auckland (Mr J. R. Elsbury) stated that there were men who were prepared tc go, but who could not see their way to pay the cost of transferring themselves and their families. He said also that they had expressed the desire for suitable house accommodation. Same as Soldiers. Mr Melsopp said that in view of the difficulties in connection with farm labour, the inroads that would be made on rural workers through the ballots and the fact that primary production was an essential war industry, the Government should be prepared tc transport the men free in just the same way as was done with soldiers. The motion, which was carried unanimously, will be sent to the National Council of Primary Production. It was pointed out, when other aspects of farm work were considered, that more use could be made of the labour of secondary school boys during the holiday period, and also of the Women’s Auxiliary Corps, which was anxious to do more to help the country through the period of war.

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