THE CALL FOR MEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1925, Page 9

THE CALL FOR MEN.

CENTRAL TARANAKI MOVES. ORGANISING THE DISTRICT. GOVERNMENT PROMISED SUPPOBT. AN EXECUTIVE SET UP. (From Gur Own Reporter.) Stratford, Oct. 7. The need for urgent and decisive action was emphasised at a big meeting of producers and business men held in Stratford to-day to diacuse measures to combat, the menace of the seamen’s strike, to organise the district so as to be prepared to support the Government, and to deal with the enrolment of vol* unteer labour. Preliminary financial arrangements were made, and a committee comprising representatives of every dairy company in Central Taranaki, together with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the borough and county council®, and similar organisations was set up, from which an execu* tive was chosen to deal with matters of urgency which might arise out of the strike ami to arrange for the enrolment of volunteers.

The following telegram, signed by the Mayor of Stratford (Mr. J. \V. McMillan), the county council chairman (Mr. E. Walter), and the member for th 6 district (Mr. R. Masters, M.P.) was despatched to the Prime Minister:—* "While regretting that your mediation in the strike was of no avail, your present action and any further action you may take in having boats manned and produce despatched has the wholehearted jsupport.of the whole of the dairying*industry in Taranaki^as represented at a meeting held in Stratford to-day. The meeting also undertook to assist the Government in providing men for manning, and loading boats and also men for protecting worker® if required.” The Mayor (Mr. J. W. MoMillan) said the position was critical. Business people were losing' heavily in regard to imports, but this was nothing compared with the loss sustained by producers. Mr. McMillan then read the resolution, which was carried.

ENROLLING VOLUNTEERS.

Mr. T. Winks (president of the Fed* erated Dairy Companies of South Taranaki) described what had been done in •South Taranaki. They had formed themselves into a committee, including representatives from the various companies and organisations. They had also Us-ued cards to the dairy companies in order to enrol volunteers. They were divided into three sections —•(!) Those men willing to go overseas; (2) those who were prepared to load the boats; and (3) those available for the purpose of protecting workers. Mr. Winks suggested that boundaries be formed in order that there should be no over* Ia PP h, S- . , , Mr. Arthur Morton eaal the National Dairy Association had circularised all dairy companies suggesting that volunteer workers should be enrolled. Imimediate action was imperative in order to show the strikers that the country was determined to end the strike and get the boats away. He mentioned that the provincial executive of th© Farmers’ Union had already taken step© and was at present enrolling volunteers in North Taranaki. Mr. J. B. Richards (Chamber of Commerce), Rev. J. L. A. Kayll (Progress League), and Mr. R. Masters, M.P., associated themselves with any move that would get the ships away and after further discussion the Mayor’s motion was carried. COMMITTEE SET UP In suggesting that a general committee be set up, the Mayor said he was very pleased to see business men and producers combining in this matter. He wanted the producers to know that the business people were working with them to smash the strike. Mr. J. B. Richards moved that the committee consist of a representative of each dairy company in Central Taranaki, together with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and similar organisations, with power to add to the number, and to define the sphere of in* fluence. Mr. S. Maealister seconded.

Mr. A. W. Budge inquired how faF north the operation® of the Federation of South Taranaki Dairy Companies extended, and was informed by Mr. Winks that the body included factories up to Eltham, through Lowgarth and on to the coast at Pihama. The motion was unanimously adopted. The Mayor announced that Mr. H. E. Abraham, a director of Messrs Newton King, Ltd., had advised him that the firm would give its employees every facility that would help the producers to end the strike. He also intimated that a number of volunteer® had already handed in their names, including a member of the executive of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce. YOUNG MEN WILLING TO ACT. Mr. 11. B. Lepper stated that his company had already organised and had already on, their roll the names of a number of young men who were ready to take up their duties so soon as they were needed. He wished to pass a hearty vote of thanks and appreciation to the National Dairy Association and to Hawera for the action they had taken. This motion wa® carried. A committee was appointed as fol-lows:--Messrs J. VV. McMillan (chairman), P. Morrissy, J. B. Richards, B. Clemow, L. Lehmann, Wellington, A. W. Budge, McCracken, Kirkby, H. C. Taylor, Rev. J. L. A. Kayll and R. Masters, M.P. The committee met immediately after the meeting. In regard to finance it was decided that each dairy company should pledge a contribution on a tonnage basis, up to a total limit of £5O. It wa® decided that the executive should arrange for volunteers to apply to the dairy company secretaries, town clerk’s office and factory managers. The executive was set up as follows:—♦ Messrs J. W. McMillan, J. B. Richards, H. C. Taylor. A. W. Budge, J. B ; Clemow, A. VV. Lehmann and G. Nichol, Mr. P. Skogluud was appointed secretary. *