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Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 2, 28 September 1943, Page 4

Whoever succeeds Mr. Barclay as Minister of Agriculture will find that a position of exceptional seriousness is developing, if indeed it has not already developed. The chairman of the Dairy Board, Mr. W. E. Hale, in his position as chairman of directors of the Auckland. Farmers’ breezing Company, has briefly reviewed the live stock position, particularly as it applies to the dairying industry, and has warned the authorities that production may fall. Hast season, be said, 45,000 fewer cows were milked than in the preceding season, and there would be a further decline this season. The killing of cows would not have been such a serious matter, he added, had sufficient heifers been reared to replace them but, as at January 31, 1943, the number of one and two-year-old-heifers in the country was 60,000 below the total twelve months earlier, and much heavier killings of bobby calves indicated that no improvement in this respect could be anticipated. The immediate position is difficult, but probably uot so serious as are future prospects. There are many men on comparatively small farms who have been compelled by lack of labour, shortage of fertilizers and other factors to change from dairying to sheep. . Later tliey will be anxious to return to dairying, and that will create a demand for stock which will be difficult to meet. Then Mr. Hale has drawn attention to the need for larger, herds, in order that ex-servicemen going ou the land may obtain suitable stock. The matter is not one that cau be dealt with in a few weeks oi months.