NELSON MANPOWER COMMITTEE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 24 October 1940, Page 6

NELSON MANPOWER COMMITTEE

TWELVE APPEALS HEARD IN TAKAKA YESTERDAY’S SITTING A sitting of the No. 9 Area Manpower Committee for the hearing of appeals for exemption from Territorial training of Takaka and Collingwood men drawn in the recent ballot was held in the Courthouse, Takaka, yesterday. The committee comprised* Messrs G. L. Page (chairman), W. Black and J. Dicker, who were accompanied by Mr T. E. Dobson (secretary and Crown representative). Twelve appeals on behalf of men passed as physically fit were heard. Nine were on behalf of farmers or farm labourers, for whom it was claimed that their absence from essential seasonal work in the next few months would create undue hardship and be contrary to the public interest. Two of the appeals were on behalf of tunnellers and the remaining one on behalf of a mechanic. Five of the cases were adjourned sine die, five adjourned to the end of April, one adjourned to 15th January and one adjourned because of the nonappearance of either the man or the person appealing on his behalf. Commenting on appeals made in respect of farmers and farm labourers the chairman said that the committee must keep in view the need for the training of men for the territorial forces and at the same time endeavour to see that primary production was maintained. While the need for* territorial training might not be apparent to the man in the street, the Government must have good reasons for introducing it. The danger of this country being invaded should not be overlooked, and farmers and indeed everyone, should do their | best to assist in making it possible for the men called in the ballot to enter camp for a period of military training.! Some hardships, sacrifices or reorganisation of the work on certain farms j might be entailed, but if farmers could work together and assist one another, a way out of their difficulties might be found.