U.S. TO CUT FARM ACREAGE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 7

U.S. TO CUT FARM ACREAGE

Statement To F.A.O.

Conference

“SOME LAND MUST BE RESTED” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) tv, WASHINGTON, November 23. h, J 1 *® United States would have to reAnrfrl? a £ rfca S e > said Mr Stanley Anarews, Director of Foreign Agricultural Relations, addressing the United Naaons Food and Agriculture Organisation to-aay. Andrews said that America’s great war-time expansion in food pro“Uction had been achieved through the dropping of some of her pre-war so ? 1 1 I "S onserva fion practices. Several million acres of dryland areas had been turned back to grain production, but now, because of a lack of effective demand for the crops, and also to promote sound use, some land must be allowed to rest. Mr Andrews said that this did not mean that the United States intended to produce only for her domestic needs. The United States had offered to place 100.000,000 bushels in the world wheat pool, in addition to the 165,000.000 bushels she was committed to export under the international wheat agreement.

Mr James Gardiner, the Canadian Minister of Agriculture, said that Canada was finding it difficult to market some of her production and considered that the time had come to rest some of her land.

Mr James Dillon, the Irish Minister of Agriculture, called on the United States and Britain to disclose their intention about the future? convertibility of sterling. All the deliberations of the organisation’s conference, he said, depended on that situation. “If unconvertibility is to be a longterm factor in .pur lives, we shall inevitably strangle one another,” he added. “It is necessary to know whether we are to plan for a long siege or live in a normal world where you can buy goods for cash and not through bureaucratic transactions.”

He said that if Britain broke down under the appalling burdens she had been carrying for the last 10 years “then as certainly as we are in this room to-day a third world war will be fought in Texas and the forces of freedom will not prevail.” Mr Dillon suggested that for a limited period there should be an unlimited passage of men. money, and materials between Britain and the United States.