FOOD FOR THE ALLIES

Evening Star, Issue 24916, 14 July 1943, Page 3

FOOD FOR THE ALLIES

AUSTRALIA'S INCREASED PRODUCTION <■Rec.-1.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 1-1. " Despite the fact that only about 3 per cent, of Australian- land is suited for cropping and man power u the land has decreased from 420.000 to 280,000 since 1939, Australia has made a wonderful contribution to the Allied food front, said the New South "Wales Minister of Agriculture, Mr Dunn. Apart from supplying all Australians needs.and some of Britain's, Australia s contribution to-the American army in the South-west Pacific last year included more than 3,500,0001 b of canned meat and 30,000,0001 b of fresh meat. This year it was hoped that, with New Zealand, Australia would increase these supplies fivefold. Among the food production goals aimed at this year were 500,000 tons of potatoes, compared with 314,000 tons last year, 70,000 tons of rice against 42.000, 100,000 tons of pigments against 71,000. Australia was rapidlv building up its output of . canned and dehydrated meats. In the third year of the war it had increased the exports of canned meat by more than seven times th«- previous annual average. Mutton for processing would require 3.000.000 to 4,000,000 sheep in future years.