PRIMARY PRODUCTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 13

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

COUNCIL AT TE KUITI CONDITION! OF SERVICE GOVERNMENT CO-OPERATION [from our own correspondent] TE KUITI, Tuesday A primary production council was set up in To Kuiti at a meeting convened by the Department of Agriculture. In tho event, however, of tho council finding that the Government fails to cooperate by giving proper consideration to requests, it was tacitly agreed that the council should disband and give its reasons for so doing, "If this is just goiing io be a case of firing along suggestions that receive no more consideration than have farmers' suggestions in the past, then it is going to be a waste of time," said Mr. W. A. Lee, after hearing Mr. J. M. Smith, of tho Department of Agriculture, outline tho reasons for the formation of the district councils under tho national councils, and how representations would go from that channel to the Government.

Eventually, on Mr. D. Alexander's suggestion, it was decided to give the matter a trial. Mr. Lee was elected chairman and Mr. EI. M. Montgomery secretary, with representatives of farmers' organisations and Government departments interested in farming and the provision of labour, forming tho committee.

Mr. V. W. Simmn, as a Farmers' "Union representative., said ho must follow Mr. H. M. llushworth in making his attendance contingent on taking steps to see that tho farmers' receipts covered the cost of production, and that sufficient and adequate labour was available to farmers at a price they could afford to pay. For this reason, he declined nomination for the chairmanship, and Mr. Lee said lie would take the post for three mouths until the position regarding Mr. Simnis had been clarified.

little hope :for future COUNTY CHAIRMAN'S VIEW [FIIOJI OVR OWN COItRESrONDENT] HAMILTON, Tuesday Tho opinion that the district councils for increasing primary production would shortly cease their activities was expressed by Mr. J. A. Sampson, chairman of tho Waikato County Council, at its meeting to-day. "I think that'after a couple of mcctin<rs tho whole thing will lade out, said Mr. Sampson, who is the county council's representative on the Waikato District Council. "We get no information whatsoever from the National Council. The two men who could give us information, the Ministers of Finance and Agriculture, keep as lar away as possible.' Mr. It. G. Young declared tho whole idea was futile ami suggested that Mr. Sampson should adopt the attitude taken by Captain 11. M. JKushworth, president of the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmers' Union, that his attendance at tho meetings was contingent on the Government being prepared to cover the farmers' costs of production. . . After sonic discussion it was decided that the chairman tdiould attend the meetings as before.