MEN FOR FARMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25514, 19 April 1944, Page 4

MEN FOR FARMS

URGENT RELEASE FROM ARMY DETAILS OF ALLOCATION PUN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Apl. 18. As part of the general plan for increasing farming production throughout the Dominion, and particularly the production of dairy produce, urgent arrangements have been made for the release of a large number of men selected from army personnel and for the placement of these men on farms throughout the Dominion. The Minister of National Service (Mr A. McLagan) said to-day that the measure constituted only one part of the plan which was at present being put into effect by the Government. A number of other aspects of the plan had already been referred to in statements by the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) and the Minister of Agriculture (Mr B. Roberts).

The question of how to find out exactly what number of men were required by the farming industries and where they would be required was being dealt with, the Minister said, by the issue of special forms through the money order offices. The form was really an application for labour, and was being used only to find out what labour was required and also as a guide in the allocation of the labour available to where it would be of the greatest value. Applications by Farmers Every farmer in need of labour at any time during the year should fill in the form and send it to the nearest member of a primary production committee, who would endorse it and send it on to the Primary Production Council. The forms would ‘be checked by the secretary of the council and then handed in bulk to the appropriate district man-power officers, who would use them as a basis for the allocation of men. In general, precedence would be given to dairy farms, the Minister said, but it was not intended to carry this principle 1o the extreme. For instance, shepherds with long experience would be retained in that type of work. Men with varied farm experience would be placed on dairy farms unless their services could be of greater value elsewhere. The Minister stressed the necessity for farmers acting promptly if they required labour, because if they did not make application now they might not be able to get labour when it was required. It would be a mistake, continued the Minister, to flood the labour market suddenly with men for farm work, as this wouid only lead to serious difficulties in placing all the men on farms within a reasonably short time. “ The building up of the farming industries,” he said, “ will necessarily be a gradual process extending over <\ period of several months. For that reason arrangements have been made for men to become available gradually over a period, and I must pay a special tribute to the army, whose co-operation in the whole matter has been a very great help indeed. System of Priorities

“ The plan which has been worked out not only provides for the release of men at a controlled rate in keeping with the capacity of the farming industries to absorb them, but also provides for a definite system of priorities in the selection of men for release. This system provides for the early release of farm owners and experienced men with definite farms to go back to. Next will come experienced men who are available for allocation to whichever farms are in most urgent need of their services. Following that will come men inexperienced in farm work. " i feel that I should say something about these inexperienced men,” the Minister added. “Although they may not have worked on farms before, their experience and training in the army have made them physically hardened men, capable of turning their hands to almost anything. Although for various reasons it has not been possible to permit farmers to nominate the particular men that they would like released, there is no doubt ■that we will be able to arrange for the release of a large number of experienced farm workers, and, provided the need exists, these men will, as far as possible, be returned to the farms on which they have had previous experience. , Men for Other Work “ In addition to farm workers, a limited number of men will become available for work in the saw mills, building and constructional work, railways, coal mines, freezing works, and butter and cheese factories. When released, the men will be granted a period of 28 days’ leave on pay. followed by indefinite leave without pay! In view of the purpose for which the men are being made available; they will all be placed under a compulsory direction order, regardless of their medical grade provided, of course, that they are physically capable of performing the work for which they have been released. “ In conclusion,’’ the Minister said, “ I would again emphasise that this whole operation, which profoundly affects the shape of the Dominion’s war effort as a whole, is only one part of a more general plan which is now being implemented for the purpose of assisting to meet the acute need of Britain and our allies in the Pacific for greater quantities of foodstuffs.”