FARMER RESERVISTS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 65, Issue 5494, 6 July 1942, Page 2

FARMER RESERVISTS

SHOULD BE APPEALED FOR UNION DISCUSSION “Every man should do the job for which he is most needed and not follow his own inclinations,” commented Mr H. Johnstone at a meeting of the Waikato sub-provincial branch of the Farmers’ Union in Hamilton on Friday when the question of appealing for farmers ballotted for military service was under discussion. The concensus of opinion was that every farmer so situated should be automatically appealed for and the onus not placed upon the individual to put his sace before an appeal board. It was felt that farmer reservists should bo appealed for whether they wished to go into camp or not, one delegate remarking that there were many farmers who would much rather go overseas, but they had a duty to the country to ensure that production was maintained. NUMBERS UNDER TRAINING The chairman, Mr Johnstone, said he thought the Army was training too many men. Many instances were apparent where there was a wastage of manpower. The stage had probably been reached where production would materially suffer if more men were withdrawn from the farms. It was explained- by one speaker that at Ngaruawahia a committee had been set up and all fanners now called in the ballot were being appealed for,- the necessary evidence being collected by the committee for presentation to the appeal board by the branch. During the discussion the case was instanced of a certain farmer who was called up selling his herd, only to be informed on reporting for military duty that he should go back to the farm as he was of greater service to the country there. It was resolved that the various branches should lodge and support appeals where they were considered necessary in the interests of the country, and that the matter be referred to the Dominion conference.