THE EFFICIENCY BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 17965, 5 March 1917, Page 5

THE EFFICIENCY BOARD

ADDRESS TO SOUTH CANTERBURY, FARMERS. (Per United Press Association.) TIMARU, March 4. Mr Frostlck, as a member of th® Efficiency Board, addressed a meeting of farmers here yesterday and a general discussion followed. Mr J. Talbot, chairman of the Farmers’ Union of the • district, dwelt upon the difficulty caused by the calling up of ploughmen. He said that teams were idle all over the district, and reliable men were not obtainable, consequently there must be a great shortage of wheat next season. Mr John Anstey,” M.P., pointed out the discrepancies in making up quotas, so that Canterbury and North Otago farming districts had been called on for a larger proportion of men than the cities. Several others agreed and endorsed Mr Talbot’s remarks. A practical suggestion by Mr Burbury, who accompanies Mr Frostick, was that a farmer unable to follow a team himself could teach another man how to manage one. The question of financing farms for absent soldiers was also discussed. It jvas said that firms did not finance farms of hard-working farmers who did not mind how long they worked. The position would be very different with hired labour under-a supervisor, and the Government should provide finance. Mr Frostick said that if the equity was held in a farm, that would secure financing, but if there was no equity the owner should, dispose of ■ it before leaving.. ' ■' ■ The result of the conference was a resolution asking the County and Road Board chairmen to call a meeting to nominate committees of supervision.