Profits Search Led To “Cropping Explosion”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 22

Profits Search Led To “Cropping Explosion”

The March for more profitable returns had caused one of the greatest cropping explosions of all time in New Zealand farming, the chairman of the agricultural section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers (Mr A. L. Mulholland) told the section’s annual conference yesterday. The problems this had caused should be met with confidence "and not a call to panic stations," he Mid. Reviewing the scene during the last year he Mid the economics of farming were still critical. Devaluation had helped, but if costs were not held any benefits would soon be dissipated. “All in all it would appear that the Government’s decision to devalue was the right one. But devaluation can only be a temporary measure, a breathing space in which to improve our trading balance,” he said. “With this in mind it is hard to My why the Government should be so apprehensive about a possible wheat sutplus." He Mid diversification could be the key word to future prosperity and the entire Industry should March for other avenues of Income. “One eould be vegetables. With the advent of giant freight carrying aircraft New Zealand eould well become

the vegetable garden of the Northern Hemisphere,” he said.

Soya bean crops looked promising on th* basis of the 300 acres now being grown in the country.

Wheatgrowing Mr Mulholland Mid the Government had honoured its undertaking to review the wheat prices in the light of submissions by farmers’ representatives.

It was up to farmers now to consider the problems confronting the industry, including those relating to a possible surplus. Acreage control eould bo achieved by a contract system but there could still be a surplus because farmers could always grow free wheat outside the contract

“The Wheat Board would then be faced with the Iffl. enviable task of aflocating the area to be grown. It is possible that dissatisfaction and even bitterness could be the result,” he said. “We do not know how successfully we could dispose of any surplus till we actually have it on our hands.” Safety Frames Mr Mulholland Mid planned legislation on safety frames for tractors “made sense” m It coincided with British legislation on similar lines. “Some farmers object strongly to the idea of frames on their tractors,” he Mid.

“Of 30 lives lost in 1966, 19 would definitely have been Mved by frames, nine would possibly have been rnved and only two would not have been rnved. Statistics show that 58 per cent of fatalities occur on nine degree slopes or less. “I ask farmers to consider whether personal prejudice is more important than human lives,” he said. Officers Elected The conference re-elected Mr Mulholland unopposed. Mr N. Q. Wright wm re-elected vice-chairman in a ballot with Mr L. W. Savage. The new executive is as follows:—Messrs Mulholland, Wright; S. M. Wilson (Amberley), L. W. Savage (Amuri), D. D. McGiffert (Cheviot). R. P. Rivers (Cust-West Eyreton); G. E. J. Hutton (Darfleld), J. L. Walker (Dunsandel), G. E. Rennie (Elleamere), G. R. Bayley (Fernside), J. F. N. Twose (Hawarden-Waikari), S. J. Hunt (Hororata), T. E. Streeter (Motukarara), P. L. Armstrong (Ohoka and districts), J. S. J. McCaskey (Omihi), K. M. Wells (Oxford), A T. Metherell (Sefton and districts), K. H. Boyle (Springston), L. G. W. Hubbard (Tai Tapu), T. M. Banks (Waimairi), R. G. Rainey (Woodend), and N. D. Thomas (Yaldhurst). Delegates to the provincial conference are Messrs Mulholland, Wright, Rennie, and Twose; delegates to the Dominion agriculture section council, Messrs Mulholland, Wright annd Twose; delegates to Dominion agriculture section conference, Messrs Mulholland, Wright, Bayley, Rennie, Twose and Savage; delegates to provincial executive, Messrs Mulholland and Wright