WORK ON FARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23662, 22 May 1940, Page 10

WORK ON FARMS

CITY PEOPLE'S OFFERS SERVICE DURING THE WAR MANY WOMEN VOLUNTEER .Anxious to make a practical contribut ion to tlie Dominion's war effort, a number of city people have volunteered to work on farms for the duration of hostilities. The majority of the offers have emno from men and women of mature years who are no longer actively engaged in business, and they sought no return other than the wages to which they would bo entitled as ordinary farm labourers. Several offers of'this kind have been received in official quarters in the city. There was one instance of a fairly elderly woman who was prepared to leave retirement on a small holding to undertake more active farm work. In another case, a retired business man and his wife, in spite of their complete lack of farming experience, volunteered to take jobs in the country. Men Without Experience Farmers in several districts of the province have reported a few cases where young men, apparently ineligible for active service with the military forces, felt that their normal peacetime occupations were of limited value to a nation at war and sought work 011 the land. Although ignorant of farming technique, they were found to be a good type and it is considered that after about six months they will be efficient workers. The outstanding offer of service on the home front has been made by the women of the 'Dominion. When the possibility of forming a women's land army was advanced in March by the Mavor of Hamilton, Mr. H. D. Caro, he 'stated that there were between 400 and 500 women in Hamilton willing to undertake farm duties without payment. However, the Government did not further the scheme. Land Army Offers

11l a telephone conversation with the Herald yesterday, Mr. Caro said that since the statement was made that 400 or 500 Hamilton women had offered their services, he had received inquiries from women in all parts of the Dominion. Letters had come from Southland, Otago, Nelson, Wellington, the Bav of Plenty, the Waikato and Auckland, stating that the writers were prepared to work anywhere on farms. One Southland girl, .anxious to obtain a job on the land during the. war, mentioned that she had received training at Massev College. Mr. Caro said he could do no more than advise these women that, unless a land army were established, he could not assume the responsibility of making arrangements for the utilisation of their offers. If women were to work on the land, it was obvious that an organisation must bo in operation to maintain their interests and to exercise control.