DAIRY PRODUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 131, 30 November 1939, Page 7

DAIRY PRODUCTION

CAUSES OF DECLINE

"PATRIOTISM NOT ENOUGH"

Two reasons, apart from climatic conditions, were given by Mr. H. E. Blyde, in an address to the Dominion dairy conference yesterday, for the decline introduction by the dairying industry. They were (1) that, the return from dairy farming had not been sufficient to induce farmers to increase their dairying activities, and had not even been sufficient to induce or enable them to continue their previous output;.(2) that labour difficulties were more real than was generally supposed, and had been a real cause in the decline.

Emphasising the necessity, in the interests of the British Commonwealth, for the utmost efforts to^ increase production even under adverse circumstances, Mr. Blyde said it should be made clear that in asking for an increased payment for dairy produce they were not actuated by selfish motives or inspired by greed, but that they were inspired by true patriotism. "We are concerned with the fact that being hampered as we are by increased costs and labour difficulties, we are unable to bring about the increased dairy production that would be possible under better conditions here in New Zealand," he continued. "Our criticism, therefore, on this point is simply/a matter of explaining to the people of New Zealand what is necessary .to bring about the desired production. THREE-FOLD NEED. "The neect for increased production is, in my opinion, three-fold: (1) To play our part in the war in which the Empire is engaged to the limit of our ability; (2) because the whole of New Zealand's economic structure is based upon' a high standard of national production; and (3) that the N future prosperity of this country will be vitally affected by the production during the war period." On the first point, Mr. Blyde said that the dairy industry felt that it would be possible to get the desired increase in production under the present conditions. They were prepared to co-operate with the Government to the fullest extent, and they felt that they had a right to ask the Government to co-operate with them also. Patriotism in itself was not sufficient to bring about increased production; the dairy farmers must be given the return to make it possible. The decline that had taken place in primary production had, in his opinion, already created difficulties for the Government in carrying on the pre.sent policy. In the national economy primary production was the jaost valuable, because it was the most/ economical, and unless a large increase in primary production was obtained the present requirements of the Government would not be met and the present standard of living of all sections of the community would not be maintained.

Again, it was vital to New Zealand's interests to consider her future. position as an exporter of primary products. Unless advantage was taken of the pi'esent conditions to build up exports to Britain, when the world returned to normal conditions New Zealand would be in a very weak position regarding her share of the British market.. ~. ■'- ■. .. ~.. , • :