THE HOME FRONT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5597, 26 March 1943, Page 3

THE HOME FRONT

Sir,—In the papers we read that it is estimated there will be 150,000 carcases less of pig products, the butterfat will be below last year’s production, fat lamb, ewe and wether carcases are a long way behind those killed by this time last year. If the primary production of New Zealand is to be kept up, the Primary Production Council and the Home Guard commanders will have to stop competing against each other for the hours the farmer can put in, and arrange parades so that they do not interfere with production. Some of the country districts hold their day parades in the middle of the week. This greatly hinders the efficient management of most of the bigger farms, as during the middle days of the week most of the-work is done in connection with bringing stock to sales, purchasing stock or bringing

stock home from sales, or picking fat lambs, etc., to send to the works, which has to be done when space is available, as well as harvesting and shearing and dozens of other jobs too numerous to mention here. It is often a question whether to go to Home Guard or carry on with the work. I admit to some of the small farmers and the single men who have been left on the farms to maintain production and have not much responsibility, it does not make very much difference whether the parades are held on Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday, as far as production is concerned. Some are opposed to Saturday parades as there is sometimes a race meeting they would like to attend, or they would like to listen to the wireless to hear the results of a race meeting at some distant town. The hotels are closed between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and this means a wait of half an hour if they wish to quench their thirst before going home. I understand that the idea of the Home Guard was to enable essential workers to obtain military training and also to be able to maintain production. So I hope those in authority will do their best to enable Home Guardsmen to train and maintain production without sacrificing one or the other, so that by being 100 per cent by both, we will help maintain the home front so that the war will be won as soon as possible and enable the dear ones who have gone overseas to return to the comforts of their homes which the Home Guardsmen have not yet been required to leave.— I am, etc., “ANTI-SIXTH COLUMN.” Te Bore, 22/3/43.