MORE PRODUCTION

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23086, 31 July 1940, Page 4

MORE PRODUCTION

♦ INCREASED ACREAGE IN ASHBURTON COUNTY An increase of 13,350 acres in crops in the Ashburton County compared with last year, more butter-fat, an increase in pig production, and heavier lambs, are desired by the National Council of Primary Production as a war effort from the district. This information was given to a conference of farmers at Ashburton yesterday by Government officials and representatives of primary industries. The increases desired are;— Wheat, 2500 acres; oats for threshing, 1000 acres; field peas, 750 acres; feed barley, to increase pig production, 900 acres; certified ryegrass, 400 to 500 acres (100 per cent, increase); white clover and Montgomery red clover, 35 per cent, increase; root and forage crops, 7000 acres. Mr T. V. Wilkinson (president of the Mid-Canterbury provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union) presided. Those present included Messrs R. P. Connell (Department of Agriculture, Wellington), representing the National Council of Primary Production; J. Dunlop (South Island representative of the New Zealand Dairy Board); W. W. Mulholland (Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union); H. F. Nicoll (chairman of the Wheat Committee); G. H Grigg (representing the Sheepowners’ Federation); J. O. McGillivray (Canterbury Superintendent of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture); G. K. McPherson (Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, Ashburton); and J. B. Pearson (Social Security Department). “We are eager to increase production, but there are some serious hind-' ranees. What is required is a stabilisation of costs in preference to financial assistance,” said Mr Wilkinson. It was not suggested that there should be unrestricted cultivation of grass lands. Mr Nicoll said in makingan appeal for more wheat and fodder crops. The Government desired that there should be an increase in grain crops, particularly wheat, and Ashburton had- been asked to increase its

acreage of wheat by 2500 acres this year. There would be no difficulty in getting the additional area sown, although there was some dissatisfaction about the prices which had been fixed. It was also desired that there should be an increase in the supply of oats, peas, barley, grass seed, clover, and other fodder crop . Heavier lambs were also required. To provide against the possibility of delays in shipping and a hard winter, more oats, chaff, and root crops should be produced, so. that stock could be held on the farms if necessary, The national production plan of farming as it affected the Ashburton County was explained by Mr Connell, who said that all the proposals if carried out with reasonable efficiency would be profitable. In appealing for an increased acreage of wheat in the county it had to be realised that the land suitable for spring sowing was limited. The pasture seed was required for Britain, which usually obtained its requirements from the Continent The forage crops were very necessary for sheep raising. It had to be remembered that Asbburtpn

County carried considerably more than 1,000,000 sheep, there being only two other counties carrying more sheep. The plan of action would be to set up small district committees of reliable, practical farmers, who would supervise production, and would help to solve the problems of farm machinery and labour. The small committees could be more effective than any other organisatibn. It would be necessary also to add to the district council of Primary Production. “As farmers we must co-operate to increase production,” said Mr Grigg. “Qur main matters should be efficiency.” The products Britain asked for were wool, cheese, and meat (pig first and mutton next) in that order. An urgent request had come from England for 10,000 tons more bacon as well as 15,000 tons more cheese, Mr Dunlop stated. Last year 92,000 tons of cheese had been graded in New Zealand, representing an increase of - 12,000 tons on the previous year. “If we can pursuade some of our friends who have gone out of dairying to keep a few more cows, all to the good,” Mr Dunlop said.

“The main strategy of the German* is to starve England,” stated Mr Mulholland. There might be difficulties about shipping, but that did not mean that New Zealand should let up on production. Food was as vital a munition in this war as shells, guns, and tanks, and it was necessary to have a large margin of safety. The Government had laid it down that it would take all that was produced. “Each member of those small committees must have in mind that he is definitely going to get a few more acres of wheat or other crop in his district, said Mr Mulholland. The job did not finish with the formation of the committees. Mr James Carr said there was a need for some relaxation in the awards whereby farmers who milked 10 cows and more had to pay dairy employees’ wages to farm hands. • Messrs Dunlop and Mulholland agreed to take up this matter with the Government.