HARVESTING WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 4, 6 January 1944, Page 6

HARVESTING WORK

SATISFIED SOLDIERS COMING BACK FOR MORE (P.A.) Wellington, Jan. 5. Harvesting work on farms in the Wellington district has proved so enjoyable to some Territorials that they have volunteered for another 28 days’ work. The firs:, group in the Central Military District mobilised under the scheme entered camp a month ago, and new groups will be called up and enter camp in the near future. Farmers generally have been well satisfied, and some have paid a bonus to the men in addition to their ordinary pay. There was some criticism of the scheme in the Vv’airarapa district, and at the December meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union a resolution was passed to the effect that Territorial labour was not able to cope with heavy work on hay presses and asked that adult and skilled labour bb made available immediately, and be billeted out. Complaints were made that the Territorials were not working hard. One contractor said that the men were dissatisfied with the rates of pay. The men had not been given a chance, said Mr. R. W. Kebble, chairman of the Wairarapa Primary Production Council. He considered that they had done splendid work. Allegations were also made that farmers at Greytown were burning hay because they could not get it pressed, and that the Territorials were wasting half their meals supplied by the Army because they were so bad that they could not be eaten. There was an immediate reaction to the complaints from farmers in the district, and there was wide praise for the work of the men. Investigations were made into the allegation regarding the poor quality of the food supplied by the Army, and the men at one camp where inquiries were made expressed themselves as being well satisfied with their meals. On nearly all farms excellent food was also supplied by the farmers. Although the men had not had any previous experience of hay pressing they were doing a remarkably good job, said one farmer. “The men are not loafing,” he said. “They are keen to learn and are a splendid type." Several of the men said they were rally enjoying the work and would like another spell at it, and other farmers, in expressing their satisfaction, said that they could not have done the work without the Army’s assistance. The scheme was not flawless and more men were wanted, but the best was being done for the farmers,

No decision has yet been reached regrding the transfer of men to the South island, where it is expected that about 5000 will be needed between now and May. Some of that number will nave to be provided by the North Island. At Auckland a number of men, instead of being sent to farms, were ordered to report to freezing works, but nothing in those lines has been done in Wellington, though the authority is possessed to direct men to essential industries under the scheme. Any men so directed are employed as civilians at civilian rates of pay.