OFFICIAL OPENING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 9 December 1940, Page 7

OFFICIAL OPENING

BY HON. P. C. WEBB Mr Don Llewellin, president of the Motueka Agricultural and Pastoral Association, prior to extending a welcome to the Hon. P. C. Webb and Mrs C. F. Skinner made feeling reference to the passing of Mr R. J. L. York, Mayor of Motueka, which occurred suddenly on j the show ground a few minutes before the arrival of the Minister. LOVE OF THE LAND After formally welcoming the Minister and Mrs C. F. Skinner, Mr Llewellin said that if Mr Webb was coming to Motueka as the Postmaster General he was taking a great risk, and if he was here as the Minister of Labour then he desired to let him know that the district was concerned over the question of farm labour. Intensive cultivation such as we practised in the fertile Motueka Valley did not lend Itself to mass production efforts. Assistants on farms required to have a love of the land in order to give of their best, and the same might be said of the farmer. It was a quality that must always be strived for and one so essential for the progress of New Zealand. Mr Llewellin, on behalf of the association, expressed sincere thanks to those who had worked so untiringly to make the show such a wonderful success. AN INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE Agricultural and pastoral shows, said the Minister, created keen interest among farmers who liked to breed good stock. In production of the very best they would have the help of the Government. He had spent some time with the Motueka people and had never met such an industrious body of men, women and children, all playing their part. He hoped that as a result of that industry the people of these districts would be rewarded. FARM LABOUR PROBLEM In reference to the farm labour problem the Minister said the Government would subsidise farm labour up to 30s a week for the first six months and 15s per week thereafter. The farmers must produce everything that was of exportable value. It was essential to assist farming in all branches. Up to the present 4000 men had been transferred from unemployment to farm work. The Government was paying 75 per cent, of wages for farmers to clear their land. The Employment Department were responsible for the clearing of 130,000 acres of bush land, the constructing of over 200 miles of drainage and a similar mileage of fencing. CIVILISATION AT THE CROSS ROADS The Minister said he regretted that Mr Skinner was not present but he was serving with the New Zealand Forces. Civilisation and democracy were at the cross roads, said the Minister. If England went down then New Zealand and ~ democracy also went down. In England almost every man and woman were united in thought and in action. They were not fighting for markets or investments in foreign countries but for civilisation, which was at stake. All were proud of Mr Skinner as a Member of Parliament, and as a soldier going overseas at his country’s call. “We don’t want to go back to the dark ages. Every man and woman should work as they had never done before,” said M. Webb. The man who did not work was helping Hitler. The Government was expressing the will of the people in being 100 per cent, behind Britain in the struggle for freedom and democracy. In Mr Skinner’s absence he (Mr Webb) would assist the people of Motueka, would co-operate and do all he could to see that the district got more, not less, than it was entitled to. Mrs Skinner was also carrying on her husband’s work and looking after the interests of the district and was frequently in touch with Wellington. Mr Skinner's interests politically would be well looked after. The Government would do its utmost to help the district along. HOME GUARD In concluding, Mr Webb made an appeal on behalf of the Home Guard,

stressing the whole-hearted support the movement was receiving from the miners on the West Coast. The Minister then declared the show officially opened and wished the promoters sue-