FOOD PRODUCTION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16289, 13 August 1918, Page 8

FOOD PRODUCTION.

TO THE EDlfoß OV "THE I'BESS." Sir, —In reply to "Cosmos," it would be interesting to know whether the number of women now employed on farms in England, also German prisoners, are taken into calculation when dealing with tho 200,00) deficiency. That wo have the advantage of' soil and climate is a mistaken notion. In the South Island we certainly have not. The drier and cleaner atmosphere may be more pleasant to live in, but there is nothing in this island to approach the almost tropical growth during an English summer, and the subsoil not being of such a shingly nature, it keeps luxuriant right on to late autumn. Then there is the very big difference of labour conditions, 'the ample supply of the right sort enables the farmer to farm his land in a thorough manner. They work much longer hours, less time is lost holiday-making, they stick to their work, and the same farm for yeara. In a word, there is efficiency. Since the war they have taken syijusly the speeding-up process, and we hear of them ploughing all night, giving up any holiday, and many women turning to. I think the farmer here is doing his best, and is glad to. get any sort of help, efficient or otherwise. Farm hands are coming and going all the year round.—Yours, etc., CHAOS.