THE SMALL FARM PLAN.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20543, 11 May 1932, Page 6

THE SMALL FARM PLAN.

PURPOSES OF SCHEME. ADVOCACY BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. / The Department of Agriculture lias issued the following statement on the Small Farm Plan, which is one of the Government's schemes for the absorption of surplus labour:— The efficiency of Now Zealand farmers is often adversely criticised. Hence it may be as well to point out at the outset that much of the criticism is unfounded and ill-informed. Actually New Zealand has good reason for being proud of its achievements in the sphere of farming. A good instance of this is that during a recent ten-year period the quantity of butter-fat produced annually. was more than doubled, and this was achieved without leading to any falling off in the other main grazing industries, tho output of which actually increased during the same period. The point of current moment is that, notwithstanding such gratifying evidence of improvement and of exploitation of modern developments, there is no sound reason for becoming self-satisfied in respect to our farming. At this mainly because of the importance of the issues involved, it seems opportune to survey briefly tho general farming position in so far as . it is relevant to recent developments in regard to land settlement. Labour Factor in Production. Of the matters which demand attention, three only will be considered now. • In the first place, primarily because of the general low level of prices of farm produce, there is greater need than has been felt for many years*for increased production provided it is secured on a Bound economic basis. Second, because of recent widespread adverse conditions, there is a possibility of decreased rather than increased production, unless the measures adopted in tho noar future are more thorough than those it has been customary to adopt in the past. Third, while the New Zealand farming community has attained a relatively high standard of efficiency in the use of material resources, such aB machinery, manures, and scods, it is extremely doubtful whether our available human resources aro being exploited with equal efficiency—a matter of paramount national importance in view of current unemployment problems. There is considerable evidence that many farmers have exercised parsimony rather than economy in regard to their labour utilisation. Two very important classes to which this seems to apply are producers of butter-fat and of fat' lambs. Needs in Dairying. It is known for instance that whilo certain dairy-farmers realise they could readily increase their production to a fairly substantial extent, they purposely refrain from attempting to do so principally because any attempt would involve the employment of anothbf 'arm hand. In view of tho present position of tho labour market such farmers Bhould ask themselves, seriously and carefully, whether their attitude can bo justified economically. Thero is much evidence that without any considerable direct expenditure on material, and as tho result merely of better attention that more labour world makfc possible, tho production of many herds could in tho course of one season bv, materially increased. Often better feeding by means of the growing of suitable arable crops, by means of ensilage, or by means of cognate measures, would directly make possiblo a twentyfive per cent, increase, ad valorem, in production. Often the labour cost is practically the total cost of such measures—a cost which would bo recovered with considerable profit at current prices, in the value of the additional produce. Dairy farmers as a clas3 need to ask themselves frankly arc they utilising effectively tho fruits of expenditure on such matters as suitable top-dressing and good herds, when they tolerate on their farms the winter hardships to stock of all types, the summer xmsatisfactory feeding of dairy cows, and the all-yoar-round poor utilisation of by-products, which extra labour would enable them almost wholly to avoid.

Pat Lamb Production. In the sphero of fat lamb production instances could be citod in which certain farmers are carrying 2 to 3 ewes for every one carried on a unit of similar land by many of their neighbours. When the methods employed on the farms of high-carrying capacity are examined and compared with those used on tho farms of low-carrying capacity, it is often to be found that the differences which exist arise from differences- in labour utilisation and that the farms employing relatively tho greater amount of labour return the greater profits. ' Accommodation Difficulty. When the employment of additional labour is suggested to farmers they often givo a reply, which is based on a considerable amount of truth, to the effect that domestic more than financial considerations deter them from employing as much labour as they would expect to be profitable. In othor words, on many farms the matter of feeding and housing permanent or even casual labour is felt to bo a real difficulty. This .difficulty, probably the greatest real one operating against the freer use of labour on farms which are devoted mainly to butterfat or fat-lamb production, promises to bo eliminated in the near future. But it will be eliminated only if the farmers concerned givo to the recently announced "Small Farm Plan" that measure of enthusiastic support which intrinsically it deserves. Supply of Labour at Hand. If thoughtful farmers visualise correctly the adequate operation of the "Small Farm Plan" in their own district, they will picture the permanent and convenient location of a supply 'of labour skilled in tho farm operations of the neighbourhood—a supply of labour which will obviate,tho necessity of the wasting of time and money which is involved in the present system of haphazardly, drawing upon relatively distant sources of labour of, at times, an unknown standard of skill. It may reasonably be expected that the "Small Farm Plan," if properly exploited, will result in the provision not only of convenient skilled labour, but also of economical labour, in that a system of mutually advantageous barter of labour, goods, and services will be found workable. For instance, labour charges may be met at times by tho supplying of a woaner pig or of breeding services, this resulting in an arrangement sntisfaetorv to both parties. It is confidently believed that if the farming community consider the '' Small Farm Plan'' in its true position in our farming industry, *t will be recognised not merely nff a promising means of minimising employment problems in urban areas, but as a fundamentally sound means of remedying " long-felt Berious weakness in this farm labour position. Plea for Consideration. Becauso it is realised that many farmers may bo prone, without hesitation or full consideration, to scon! ai any

suggestion of profitably, at present, employing additional labour on farms, farmers generally are asked to give some thought to tho position on their own farms in particular and on the farms in their district, and to acquaint themselves with tho proposals involved in the small farm plan before they venture to express their opinions about a plan downed to deal with what are really vital national issues. Leaving altogether out of consideration the treatment of fanning lands which are largely undeveloped and which call for time as well as labour to bring about increased direct roturns, it is not difficult to illustrato tho possible scope for tho almost immediate use of labour on farms which are now considered as largely developed. Specific instances may readily be cited. Important measures that often will need attention in the near future, and that on many farms not only would lead eventually to increaso in the amount of labour utilised but also would result quickly in profitable returns, are topdressing, drainage, the formation of ensiiagc'pits and trenches, and preparatory cultivation for special cropping in excess of the amount previously carried out as a means to improved feeding and -possibly increased numbers of stock. The farming community is being asked to assist in the small farm plan as a matter not of service to the nation, but of service to the farmers themselves. In brief, they are being asked not so much to help the other fellow as J;o help themselves as a community. Of'course, in the process of helping themselves they will bo helping the nation in a matter of paramount current importance. Sponsored by Department of Agriculture. For years past the Department of Agriculture has advocated with all the equipment at its disposal the merits of such things as phosphatic top-dressing, ensilage, properly controlled grazing, better feeding of stock, and the use of animals of proved productive blood. Thousands of farmers in their everyday practice have verified the profitable nature of those farm management matters when properly applied. With confidence in the merits of the small farm plan equal to that which it has had in the proven merits of the practices just mentioned, the Department of Agriculture is launching its campaign whereby it expects to obtain the co-operation of thousands of farmers in placing in a sound position on the land thousands of farm workers who to-day, usually through no fnult of their own, are* a drain on the funds which farmers, together tfith other sections of the community,* ar© providing for the relief of unemployment.