FARMERS AND WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23997, 21 June 1941, Page 12

FARMERS AND WAR

REPLY TO CRITICISM FULL SUPPORT GIVEN "The statements constituted a most .serious charge against the whole tanning community, but were in such general terms that beyond a flat denial, no adequate rebuttal appears to be possible," stated the provincial secretary of the Farmers' Union, Mr. A. F. Robinson, ye.stcrdav, in reply to charges made by members of the iS'o. I Armed Forces Appeal Board that the farming community was not, assisting the board by helping men to be released for war service. The union's reply was made under instruct ions from the Auckland provincial president., Mr. IL M. Rushworih. "There is no foundation whatever for the statement, that farmers, or the Farmers' Union, have .any other desire than to assist the Armed Forces Appeal Board to arrive at just and proper decisions in the many difficult cases that come before it on appeal." continued the statement. "Il the board really considers that the tendering of evidence based on local knowledge is of no assistance a plain statement to that effect would clear the air. "It only remains to tie said that the farming conimunit\ is wholeheartedly in support of the Dominion's war effort and has alreadv provided manpower in the forces at least equal to that of any other section of ibe community and has. in addition, with dangerously restricted resources, increased production from the farms to an amazing and unprecedented extent