Storong Demand Expected For N.Z. Food Production

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27408, 22 July 1954, Page 13

Storong Demand Expected For N.Z. Food Production

(New Zealand Press Association)

‘S WELLINGTON, July 21. «an an optimist and I firmly an expanding world popu- . pr with rising standards of living, - absorb all the food we can proft C . nI» very many years to come,” , si Se Governor-General (Sir waft ■ etsT Kerrie), opening the ninth ffljiion conference of Federated nans today. ;n He urged the conference, however, de all it could in the interests 'icoroving quality, as well as of casing production. ... mineral resources, the ■Ja" BS7 must become more than ever 2™ acdeat on primary production, he nmu made K essential that a t'ht*’ xer balance between urban and population be maintained. I J* ¥ the prediction of the experts „ t correct. our population will inT" sse by 1.000,000 in the next 21 years. ' n shall need to increase our liveB ri production by 60 per cent., or r - ftr cent a year. ’Jc'ess we do this our living stand'rt£rl «will fall.” he said. “And, more- * Te sha U n °t be able to claim t we are making the most efficient , i our resources. Other parts of gwi 1001 t hungarily towards e * Coping With Competition tenn ‘Jahty is the surest means of tfonk competition for our proft,” the Governor-General said. “In omb- the fforts of your statuurch. boards and commissions deserve ?ha support, and I know that you ’ , giving it to them.” are : Willoughby Norrie said that the t has ! w . or ld today demanded riie* ! co-operation between farmers, r a n sgh their organisations, and the 'bow Pnment fc should not mean that there , any weakening of desire on the - ets* part to tackle their own probnifihf L u Workin S with the Government ” never sap the self-reliance, BHje. and capacity for making . eoq that had always been a feap farmers’ organisations. or€ _ rae economic battles of the future •r-t SS® to be won by people who, sjj’ - lon to well led. have * rprise and self-reliance. With in- . co “OP era tion between farmers Government, as there is in J B ™? at present, a great many csn be solved,” Sir Willough- ■ Same said. 5 2rMl • Zealand, on grounds of selfu— ggt and ethical obligation, had a

to increase food production, he added. mean that the administrations must ensure that conditions obtain which are favourable for investment in land development; and I do not know how this can be done better than keeping in close touch with farmers through Federated Farmers and producer boards. • **?i n S e *k e war,” he said, “interest m food production has growing The reasons for this are not hard to find.

World population is increasing, because people are living longer. Fewer babies die, and advances in medical science help people to achieve a ripe old age. “The process must increase pressure on world resources, particularly of food, although these are not evenly distributed.

The resulting poverty is regarded by some as a major cause of war. I do not subscribe to that theory. Neither World War I nor World War II was started by nations with empty larders. Their cause sprang entirely from greed, revenge and lust for power. At the same time, poverty is an all-too-well-suited medium for the development of political ideas completely contrary to our concept of individual freedom.” Agriculture Research

The work of agricultural scientists, Sir Willoughby Norrie said, had impressed him greatly. He had visited research institutes, and it was heartening to see evidence of science and farming working hand in hand. “The work on trace elements, now proceeding steadily, shows how a few ounces of copper, molybdenum, or cobalt can transform land. The use of cobalt particularly has assisted the remarkable development of your marginal lands. “The striking evidence of the success of this development, which I have seen around Rotorua and in the far north, makes it hard to believe that only five years ago these many thousands of acres were covered with stunted scrub.”

Another “pleasing” development mentioned by Sir Willoughby Norrie was the move to increase the number of veterinary surgeons in the country. Whatever the outcome of investigation into the possibility of the establishment of a veterinary school, he was certain that provision should be made for a greater number of veterinary surgeons.