LABOUR ON FARMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 230, 30 September 1942, Page 6

LABOUR ON FARMS

“IN DESPERATE STATE” MEN NOT RELEASED BY ARMY AUTHORITIES (P.A.) Hastings, Sept. 29. “If experienced farmers and farm workers arc not released from the Army a definite further fall in primary production is inevitable,” said Mr. R. A. Candy, of the Waikato Council of Primary Production, today, when commenting on the scarcity of farm labour. “Many farmers’ wives with young children have been endeavouring to fill the gap caused by men leaving farms to enter camps. The women have suffered in health because of the strain. The Production Council wants a better balance between the requirements of the armed forces and primary production.” Mr. Candy said the Minister of Primary Production had stated that men would be released from the armed forces where it was shown that farms were understaffed to such an extent as to make the maximum production impossible, as foodstuffs were just as important to the war effort as men. The labour position on Waikato farms was now in a desperate state, and there were numerous cases of farmers handling 100 and even more cows of their own. Similarly, many sheep farmers were endeavouring to look after 2000 ewes without assistance. Many applications for the release of men had been favourably considered by armed forces appeal boards, but Hie Army authorities have only released a very small proportion of the men appealed for. Mr. Candy pointed out that the Production Council did not ask for men in the age groups 21 to 41, and had asked for a list of men in the Army competent and willing to undertake farm work. That list was not forthcoming from the Army authori-