Evening Post FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1944. MEN AND FOOD.

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1944, Page 4

Evening Post FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1944. MEN AND FOOD.

Australia and New Zealand have been described by President Roosevelt as two of the main "bread-baskets" of the United Nations, and in his periodical reports to Congress on lendlease operations the President has warmly acknowledged the great contribution made by the two countries in supplying the food requirements of the armed forces engaged in the Pacific area. But, great as that contribution has 'been, it is clear that if the demands of the future are to be met fully even greater efforts will be necessary. The conference of Australian and New Zealand Ministers in Canberra has been discussing the problem, and in the light of statements made in cable messages which we publish today it is evident that a reorganisation of the war efforts of both countries, with a greater concentration on food production, is contemplated. Discussion of increased food supplies for Britain and for enlarged United States forces which may be stationed in the southern 1 Pacific has been proceeding, it is reported, and it jis believed that both these interested parties (Great Britain and America) have emphasised the need for increased supplies of food rather than for greater numbers of .fighting personnel from New Zealand and Australia. As Mr. Curtin has pointed out, the experience and problems of the two Dominions are largely parallel, and it is desirable that the two Governments should work in close co-operation in deciding on the most effective contribution the two countries can make to the war ! effort of the United Nations. The nature of that contribution, as we have emphasised on several occasions, must 1 depend on the demands of the war j situation as a whole. Apparently the wishes of Great Britain and the United States have now been made known, and it will be for Australia and New Zealand to conform to those wishes to the greatest possible extent. Several factors must be taken into consideration in any drive for increased production, and they are not all common to Australia and New Zealand: One important factor, however, is common—that of the most effective utilisation of man-power. If there are to be immediate results, it is clear that there must be a considerable diversion of labour to the primary industries. New Zealand producers have been complaining'for a long time that they have been unable to obtain sufficient labour to maintain production, and the steps taken by the Government to give them relief have been far from satisfactory. They have been spasmodic, and there has been little evidence of that careful planning which is essential if a proper balance is to be arrived at. As a result, farmers have been left very largely in the dark as to what is required of them. For instance, \ there is the disturbing statement at Hamilton by Mr. W. W. Marshall, ■chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, that many farmers in the Waikato are losing heart, and that there exists a widespread and deep-seated spirit of discontent. Production, he said, had declined progressively for three years, and was now down by 25 per cent. Then there is the further statement by Mr. A. J. Sinclair, of Te Awamutu, that "the farmers have not received a lead from the Government as to whether it will give priority to men or food." Such statements coming from recognised leaders of the dairying industry cannot be lightly regarded. But the dairying industry is not alone in suffering a decline in production. Mr. Stronach Paterson, chairman of directors of the Gear Meat Company, told shareholders yesterday "that we have another difficult and strenuous year ahead of us, and it will be no news to you that the current season has had a very poor start." To a large extent the marine 1 reduction in meatkillings has been*'due to the unfavourable weather conditions of the last six months, but there are other factors as well—the man-power position and the rest period of five days decreed by the Government during the holiday period. The Government cannot control the weather, but it can control other factors. In view of the serious position facing primary producers— and the country generally—the Canberra decisions will be welcomed, and primary producers and the public will look, forward to their implementation. It is to be hoped that the manpower reviews which Australia and New Zealand are to make will not be unduly delayed. If, as the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Roberts) told the Hamilton meeting, there is quite a lot of original thinking to be done in an effort to find a solution to the problems facing the dairying industry, a start cannot be made too soon, for the position of the industry is becoming more critical every day. The Government, in its approach to the problem, should seek the co-operation and advice of the primary producers. This would go a long way towards removing the impression in the minds of farmers generally that there is a lack of appreciation of their problems and a lac^c of sympathy for their aspirations.