AID FOR BRITAIN

Opunake Times, 17 October 1947, Page 2

AID FOR BRITAIN

TARANAKI COMMITTEE COUNTY DISCUSSION Mr. E. Gilmour, Mayor of New Plymouth in a circular letter, received at Tuesday’s meeting of the Egmont County Council, wrote requesting the appointment of a County representative to "act on the proposed Taranaki Aid for Britain Committee, drawn from all town districts, Boroughs and Counties in Taranaki. It was also suggested that local committees should be set up in each district under the control of Taranaki Local Bodies : The objects were outlined as follows; To co-ordinate the work of all sub-committees To organise local committees whose aim would be to co-ordin-ate the effort in each_ district, with the recommendation that sub-committees be set up as follows : 1. Food Parcels. 2. Coupon Saving. t 3. Fat Collection. 4. Avoidance of waste, and use of substitute. 5. Display and Publicity. 6. Petrol Saving. The Chairman, Mr. W. C. Green; The only way to help Britain is to increase production according to the wish of the Federated Farmers. I am not in favour of food parcels—food should go forward in bulk. Cr. R. H. Baylis: Very few farmers or citizens realize how grim the position is in England. Cr. G. Sayed: The people in England do appreciate food parcels, but the real solution is an increase in production. The Chairman considered that the executive committee should be appointed first and could then give a lead and make suggestions for local committees to work upon. Cr. A. J, Lilley: The Government should adopt a similar policy to that employed in England. The farmers should be advised of their individual production capacity and if not coniplied with action should be taken. Cr, E, A. Collins ; If is all very well to say increase production. The average farmer is doing everything possible. The Minister should come out and tell the farmer what he wants him to do and then should give, him free rein to work out his own salvation. Shortages of labour and equipment was a big handicap, but farmers did realize the seriousness of the position and were generally doing their best.

Cr. R. Cassie said lie was pleased tliat the resting period on the wharfs had ceased and a quicker turn-round of ships could be anticipated. He moved that the Chairman be appointed to represent the Council on the proposed Taranaki Aid for Britain Committee.

Cr. G. Sayed in seconding the motion considered that those farmers not producing to capacity should be assisted with capital or labour where necessary. “That is a matter for the committee to suggest to the Minister,” commented one Councillor. Cr. G. H. Dawson: Britain is our only real market and if anything should happen there, we are sunk. The motion was carried and Cr, Dawson was appointed as the Chairman’s deputy in the event of his not being able to attend. The wisdom of forming an aid-for-Britain sub-committee in the County was questioned. Members felt that representatives on such a committee would be defeating their own aims by using large quantities of petrol to attend meetings where the need for com serving petrol was to be dis' cussed.

The Clerk was also instructed to advise that consideration of the formation of a County subcommittee would be dealt with after the meeting of the Taranaki Committee.