REDUCED PRODUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1942, Page 6

REDUCED PRODUCTION

MEAT AND BUTTER

In q survey last night of primary production requirements, the Minister of- Agriculture and Marketing (Mr. Barclay) said that there should be no programme of increased production for either meat or butter; rather should production of these • commodities at least be stabilised and reduced by individual dairy and sheep farmers wherever possible by additional culling of herds and flocks. / Mr. Barclay suggested the possibility of farmers in certain districts diverting production into other channels. There was need, he said, for a greater production of wheat, linen flax, cheese, and possibly other milk products such as whole milk powder. The Minister reviewed the present stock position and referred also to the estimated position at the end of this year. Summing up, Mr. Barclay stated that it could be said that the long-term interests of the Dominion would be better served by a.tendency to decrease export meat and butter production! because the post-war possibilities facing both industries would be largely influenced by the amount of accumulated produce in store at the end of the emergency period. If the stocks could be kept within reasonable limits, the position of^the Dominion's export industries would be greatly strengthened.