CALL FOR A LEAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24205, 25 January 1940, Page 13

CALL FOR A LEAD

HOW TO SERVE IN WAR PEOPLE IN QUANDARY FARMERS AND PRODUCTION PROBLEM to Daily Times) '' ,'; ' AUCKLAND, Jan. 24. "The country people want to give the greatest assistance in the winning of the war. What is the greatest service?" asked Mr J. A. S. Mackay, chairman of the Whangarei County Council, of Sir Ernest Davis, chairman of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, at a meeting in Whangare;. "We have been told that the production of food for the Home Country is the greatest service New Zealand can give. We are told to-day that the •ending of men overseas is that service. . Which is the most important service? Can you give definite edvice to the country people, who are waiting for a lead? " Sir Ernest Davis, accompanied by Mr A. Ely. : president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr K. Usrnar, secretary of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, and Major C. Shuttleworth. New Zealand Staff Corps, was meeting representatives of local bodies from throughout North Auckland for the purpose of arranging for a recruiting-campaign in the area. .Time for. Government to Act "As I see it, the farmer who is producing'should stay and produce," said Sir Ernest, in reply to Mr Mackay. " Let'those men go who can be spp.red. I can see that the time will come when men who are not fit for active service will have to help in production to release fit men." "I know of one case where the three-sons have enlisted and the old father has been left to wind up the farm,". said Mr Mackay. " That is what is happening in this district today. Now is the time for the Government -to make some pronouncement as to what is required from the farming community." Need for Land Army "The country is asking for a lead from the Army headquarters and the Government," said Mr Rodney Coates, chairman of the Otamatea County Council. " There is a spirit abroad that is anti-British, and this is telling against recruiting. People are so ignorant of the position that they are asking, -'What are we fighting for?' All are asking for a lead." "The apathy shown to the war in this i country is simply appalling," said Mr Ely. "The position has not been put before the people. They require a lead. The time -has come when we must have a proper land army of both men and women. No Government can go on in the present lackadaisical way. What would be our position if the British Government sent out an S.O.S. for 70,000 men. The Government must give the people a lead." Request to Government The meeting then carried a resolution requesting Sir Ernest Davis to place before the Government the position obtaining in North Auckland, ■ where a number of farmers and farm labourers have been accepted for service; a position which, in the opinion of- the meeting, was undesirable, as the production of primary products was so essential to the successful prosecution of the war. Sir Ernest was asked to requfest : the T Government'to give the country a lead oh this question and others connected with production and recruiting. Undertaking to place these views before the Government, Sir Ernest said that there' Were several very important points '■ which required clarifying. Men unfit for service should be made available for-farm labour, while the position of the farmer should be cleared; / r