TAKAKA FARMERS’ UNION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 6 October 1942, Page 3

TAKAKA FARMERS’ UNION

MONTHLY MEETING MILITARY SERVICE AM) FARM PRODUCTION At the monthly meeting of the Takaka Branch of the Farmers’ Union, the president (Mr B. Wood) presided over a fair attendance of members. The secretary reported that Messrs L. H. Baigent and J. Vaughan had been appointed members of the Advisory Board in place of Messrs H. Nees and T. Symes whose resignations had been received at last meeting. Advice had been given to a farmer’s wife on the procedure she should adopt to get her husband released from camp as she could not carry on the farm without his assistance. A protest was forwarded regarding the case of a farmer whose application for three months’ leave from camp to help his widowed mother had been refused. The meeting decided that the chairman, Mr B. Wood, should attend the sitting of the Appeal Board in Takaka to support the appeals of members of the Farmers’ Union. The special sub-committee which had been set up some time ago to investigate such cases would act as advisers to Mr Wood with regard to necessary facts. The secretary, Mr K. W. Baird, in reply to questions on the decisions I of the Appeal Board, stated that the Board seemed to consider a farmer I must be milking 30 cows at least before he could get exemption from military service. Various members pointed out that this was most unfair and unpractical. Mr L. Hitchcock considered that the Appeal Board should contain at least one practical farmer who understood farmers’ conditions of work. He held that the Appeal Board’s attitude to farmers appealing against service would result in a reduction in the producing power of the country. Mr Coppell thought that grade 3 men should be freed from military service and sent to work on farms to help the farmer. The secretary brought up the position of a member of the branch who had been called in the ballot and had no one to milk his cows when he went to Nelson for his medical examination. After much discussion, Mr Hitchcock moved that the Military Commander in Nelson be asked to 'send a medical board to Takaka as. under the present conditions of labour, it was an undue hardship for men to leave their farms even for one day. The position of farmers with regal'd to compulsory Home Guard training was clarified by the secretary, who pointed out that farmers could be excused by their company commanders from attending parades during their busy season. Members expressed the opinion that the Minister of Transport would have to do something about the problem of motor tyres for the Home Guard. It was suggested that a reserve of tyres should be built up so that farmers who used their cars to attend parades could obtain new tyres when necessary or that arrangements be made for retreading worn tyres. A remit was forwarded to the Provincial Executive urging the Government to supply adequate medical supplies for the E.P.S. and the Home Guard. It was decided to support ! the remit that hospital charges be paid by the Government by increasing the allowances paid out of Social Security Funds. Other remit? received from the Dominion Conference included one expressing appreciation of the British Government’s action in making a 15 per cent, increase in the price of New Zealand wool and one protesting against the prolongation of the life of Parliament. The secretary reported that farmers had been granted the same concession as office workers with regard to supplies of tea and sugar for morning and afternoon tea for farmworkers. Mr L. Hitchcock pointed out that this extra ration could be obtained through the secretary ol' the dairy factory. Word was received that a survey was being made of the number of men suitable for all classes of farm work so that a good supply of labour should be available for farms. It was decided to support the remit that uniforms be supplied to the Home Guard before Women’s Auxiliaries and conscientious objectors.