Evening star., 1944-02-14
Induction Is Facino
Farm Workers Who
Can Be Replaced
By the Associatec Press,

SAAAS1A0Oy + GU. A3.-0Id dlt Qc.
ferment of farmers must be lin
tied in the future to those who
are "in fact irreplaceable," the
Food Professors Conference was
told here today by Col. Francis
v. Keesling, chief liaison and
legislative officer of Selective
Service.
The conference also heard c. w.
Kitchen, deputy director Of the VIA
office of distribution, predict dras-
tic cut In canned fruits and vege-
tables for civilians. Col. Philip G.
Bruton, director of labor for VITA,
revealed that VIA is planning an
emergency labor force for the year,
Local boards must reappraise the
situation and comb over these occu-
pational deferments in the
light OF the present circumstances,
namely, whether the farm regis
trant is, in fact, necessary to the
farm, regularly engaged In farming,
and Is IN fact irreplaceable," Col.
Keesling said.
Best Material Sought.
This must be done, of course, not
only to insure justice being done to
activities other than farming, but
also so that we can obtain the best
material for the armed forces while
at the same time cutting down to
that extent the number of pre-
Pearl Harbor fathers that would
otherwise have to be inducted.",
In another address, Col. Bruton
told the conferees that the VIA
was planning a mobile task force
OF 126,000 able bodied, experienced
Interstate and foreign workers.
Thus workers will be shifted from
area Of critical need as required to
assist local labor forces in the pro-
duction and harvesting of essential
food and flber AS emergency crop
harvesters they will not remain
permanently in any community"
Col. Bruton listed the following
conditions for use of this force in
food-processing plants:
81. That the workers are already
IN the area where the need exists,
and
%. That the workers are not
needed at the time in agriculture in
the area as certified by the State
Extension Service, and
g. That the War Manpower Com
mission has certified that such work.
ers are needed to save substantial
quantities of war essential food
which will be lost If said workers
are not made available"
In an address last night. Mr.,
Kitchen said civilians are facing a
43 per cent cut in canned fruits and
10 per cent cut In canned vege-
tables during the forthcoming year
Allotments Made.
He said a new order signed Fri
day allotted civilians 10000
cases of IL canned fruit items as
against 10000, 900 last year; and 1O4.-
600 900 cases of IA vegetable items
compared with 128OOO,O 900 last year
Mr.. Kitchen said the new order
requires Gamers to set aside for
military and lease lend use during
1914 about 10 per cent of the 1912
43 average production of fruits: and
about so per cent of their vege-
tables.
g.. These are high. figures" he as
serted, higher than some of us
expected, andthey ind ndE48 the sert-
business Of the production problems
before U.s." He added the ONCE of
Distribution is working on-eeiling
prices for major fresh fru1t4 and
vegetables in addition TO- those al
ready in effect on 10 vegetables.
More War Prisoners Available.
Fay Hunter, chief of the rural
industries division of the War Man.
power Commission. said prisoners of
war would be made available in
greater numbers this year as labor
in the canning industry through
the establishment of additional per-
manent camps.
Mr.. Hunter mentioned as another
source men discharged from the
armed forces, although he cautioned
that this group could not be counted
on as an important source of labor
supply.
Many soldiers and sailors on leave
will be available to help, Mr.. Hunter
said, adding that present indica-
tions are that the 1943 agreements
covering the use Of this group by
the food processing industry will be
continued.