FOOD PRODUCTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 184, 5 August 1940, Page 6

FOOD PRODUCTION.

Nobody will dispute the statement by Mr. W. W. Mulholland, president of the Farmers' Union, that it is New Zealand's job to do her utmost to ensure that Britain's food supplies are maintained, but a further clarification of the position is undoubtedly called for. At present a little is being done to increase supplies of cheese and .of pig meats, but beyond that, and a suggestion that there may be no call for eggs for export, though increased production has been asked for, the producer is still working in the twilight. Mr. Mulholland says that all the food we can produce will be needed, and suggests that the stores here should be so full that whatever Britain asked for we would be able to supply. Mr. Mulholland knows, however, that storage accommodation in New Zealand is limited, and that it is almost impossible to increase it to any effective extent under present conditions. It is thus within the bounds of possibility that the stores may be filled with one class of produce to tho detriment of another, or they, may become congested with one class when another is called for. Mr. Nash should offer something more definite than he has yet given to the farmers, outlining as far as is possible the relative importance of the various production groups, the tonnages required, the amount that can be stored in New Zealand and the best method of co-ordinating production to demand and to shipping gem-