DOMINIONS DEFENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 256, 28 October 1937, Page 9

DOMINIONS DEFENCE

NEW SCHEME CRITICISED ATTITUDE OF FARMERS Some indication of the attitude of the farming community in regard to the present scheme of defence was given at a meeting of the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. It was made plain during discussion that so long as time off to attend camp cannot be deducted >oin Wi employee's annual holiday of 18 days the farmer will not readily grant leave for training. The meeting also took the view that April was not a suitable month in which to hold • camp. Mr. C. R. Leach (Westmere), explaining the altered scheme of defence which had come into vogue recently, staged that it had been found that evening parades were of little use and week-end bivouacs were to be attempted. In his district they had tried one and had only mustered a strength of live per cent of what they had expected. A Member: What was the reason for that? Mr. Leach: Entirely the fault of the employers in not letting the men have leave. Mr. G. Palmer (Maxwell): You will not find the farmers ready to give leave until the Act is altered to permit them deducting the days off from the annual holiday of 18 days. Mr. Leach added that the intention to hold a camp in April was not right. It would be better to hold it later in the year, preferably in May or June, he said. Mr. Claud Smith (Brunswick): That is a matter for the defence Authorities to arrange. A Voice: We will never do any good until we have a compulsory system of defence. Mr. Leach said that the authorities desired the full co-operation of employers, and the farmers in particular. It would help matters if the farmers took the matter up seriously and stated their views by way of resolution. Mr. Smith contended that the date of the annual camp was surely a matter for the defence authorities to arrange with the employers. If the . men could not be let off in April then it was obvious some later date would have to be arranged. Mr.i Leach saiu that the date had been fixed and a resolution from the farmers protesting at it would help to have it altered. Mr. Smith: The defence people can alter it now. Mr. Leach: The Government are the defence people. A Voice: With Mr. Savage a bri-gadier-general. The meeting carried a resolution asking that leave for camp be deducted from annual leave comulsorily granted to employees and that the annual military camp, to suit Wanganui district conditions, should be held later in the year than April.