Services Vegetable Project at Levin during wartime

[NZBC]

During World War Two, Levin was the site of an important vegetable growing project used to help feed the armed forces, particularly the thousands of US servicemen in camp at Paekakariki.

The unit was established in Levin about February-March 1942, with its headquarters in Bruce Road

About 280 acres of land was leased compulsorily, from east of Bruce Rd in the vicinity of Bolton Rd, to the west of CD Farm Rd.

Much of the land was part of the original Central Development Farm of earlier years 1894-1928. The office and sheds were on the west of Bruce Rd on Mr Ray Brown’s farm, about where Bolton Rd intersects with Bruce Rd and just south of the present modern house of Mr Graeme Taylor.

The office and storerooms were built new (Public Works huts) and the large sheds were obviously the original farm sheds. The old house was used as a staff shelter and had previously been used as a cookhouse with a cook when some single men lived in huts. These huts were called army huts too, as the army used them as well. Two houses (again of huts joined together) housed senior staff.

These S.V.P. units were established to supply vegetables to military camps in NZ especially for the large American Marine camp at Paekakariki.

When the 3rd Division in the Pacific was returned to NZ in 1944, I was directed by the Levin Manpower Committee to work as a ganger at the Levin S.V.P. Unit. The manpower regulations were part of the emergency regulations during World War Two, 1939-45. People could be directed by the local manpower committees to work at any essential industry.

People were directed from shops, offices, etc., to more essential industries.

Non-compliance was a criminal offence, punishable by fines, even jail, or if eligible, for military service and offenders would be immediately called up for service.

The farms which were leased were of Mr Wm. Fyfe on the corner of Bolton and Bruce Rds, now sub-divided and owned by Mrs Marjorie Harris, York Gardens, in Bolton Rd and Kee Young, and Jack Young in Bruce Rd. Mr Ray Brown’s, now occupied by Mr Graeme Taylor, and 25 acres of Mr John Laing’s 50 acres, now owned by Mr Geo Tse on the west side of Bruce Rd; Mr Kearans’ 60 acres, now owned by Kohitere; and 30 acres of Mr John Maynell’s 60 acres, now subdivided and owned by Mr Angus Smith, Mr Hugh Gardener, Mr Monti and Roberta Mayclair on CD Farm Rd and Golden Coast Poultry and Mr Williams on Buller Rd. On the west side of CD Farm Rd, Mr Chas Brickland’s 60 acres was leased, now occupied by Woodhaven Gardens at the rear and Mr Murray Fletcher at the front.

There were other S.V.P. units in NZ.

horowhenua.kete.net.nz/site/documents/show/157-services-vegetable-project-at-levin-during-wartime