MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS

Southland Times, Issue 17933, 26 January 1917, Page 5

MILITARY SERVICE BOARDS

DISCUSSED BY WAR FUNDS COMMITTEE. ' At yesterday’s meeting of the War Funds Committee, a lengthy discussion took place regarding matters connected with the work of the Military Service Boards, and, while admitting that the Boards were giving general satisfaction, still members of the committee considered that there were rocks ahead, and that the farming community in particular had a serious problem before them. Mr Turnbull (Waikaka) said that he viewed with regret that no one south of Dunedin had been appointed on the Board. He thought the committee should make itself heard in regard to this matter, and that it should point out that fanning in Southland was a very different proposition to what it was in northern districts. Mr Gilkison expressed the opinion that a close knowledge of local conditions was essential. While Dabour matters apart from farming, were in the same nature in Southland as elsewhere, there was the purely Southland farming knowledge regarding winter feed, etc., that was required for success and tor the keeping up of our products. Hence a local farmer should have been appointed on the Board dealing with appeals In this district. Mr M. Thompson thought it was a matter for the Farmers’ Union; but it was ultimately unanimously resolved to forward the following resolution to the Minister of Defence, A. and P. Societies and Farmers’ Union:—"That this Association notices witli regret that no Southland representative has been appointed on the Military Service Boards for Otago and Southland, and fears that agricultural and pastoral interests will thereby suffer, the conditions in this province requiring special local knowledge.”