FOOD FOR BRITAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25210, 24 May 1945, Page 7

FOOD FOR BRITAIN

FARMERS WANT LAHOUR

MEAT BOARD'S STATEMENT (0.c.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The New Zealand Meat Producers Board at its recent meeting discussed at length the manpower position on I arms in its relation to the vital necessity for maintaining food supplies to Britain. It decided to communicate its views to the acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, and also to the Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, Mr Roberts, and the Minister of industrial Manpower, Mr McLagan. The board expressed its conviction that the present uncertain position of the labour supply is having a very serious effect on the prospects of meat production in future. The recent calling up of farmers and labour on farms had, stated the board, created a most discouraging feeling, and the lowered morale which must result from the severe hardships under which farmers were suffering through labour shortage must definitely have an -adverse effect on production. Doubt was expressed by the board's, members as to the possibility of the position being relieved by men returning from overseas, because there was no certainty that they would readily return to farm work in face of the easier life and the greater companionship to be enjoyed in the towns. "To the board and the meat producers," stated the letter sent to the Government, "it does not seem to make sense that at this stage of the \Var men who have boon retained right up to the present because of their essentiality should now be withdrawn from farms when the need for more food is greater than over." At its previous meeting the board had made representations to the Government to maintain the skilled staffs of the export freezing works, pointing out that it would bo useless to make more stock available for the export trade if it could not be prepared for shipment. The result of these representations was the postponement _of calling up of certain classes of freezing works employees, and as this occurred before the victorious conclusion of the campaign in Italy the board was of opinion that, the problem which then faced the Government in respect to replacements for the division was now less acute.

In its latest communication to the Government the board urged that there should be an early announcement of policy in regard to manpower on farms and its relationship to food production for the Old Country, so that farmers can plan their operations for the coming season.

Reports, on the shipping and cool storage position submitted at the board's meeting indicated the keen desire of the British authorities to lift every available Jon of New Zealand meat. Although shipping tonnage is a world-wide problem, the refrigerated ships made available to the Dominion have enabled meat to be shipped in greater quantities than last season, the cool store position being relatively much easier this year, in spite of the fact that the quantity of meat killed to date is approximately 20.000 tons more. TAKING OF FARM WORKERS EFFECT ON PRODUCTION "I have done everything possible to get the Government to reconsider the position," said Mr W. W. Mulholland during a discussion on the call-up of farm workers at the conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Auckland Province, yesterday. "No previous action has knocked production so badly as this call-up." If there were a vital need for the men to be taken the farmers would do their best without them, he continued, but unfortunately they were not satisfied with that position in view of the lack of information on the subject. The Government should be told what effect the call-up would have on production and the responsibility must rest with it. The president, Mr H. M. Huslnvorth, said that if the men went away production would drop at least 25 per cent. A resolution was carried drawing the attention of the Government to the effect the call-up would have on primary production.