FOOD FOR THE WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 25619, 20 October 1945, Page 8

FOOD FOR THE WORLD

NEW ZEALAND'S SPECIALISED ROLE IN WAR FURNISHED 9,000 MILLION POUNDS FOODSTUFFS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 20. " We wish to emphasise at the outset the positive role which the Food and Agriculture Organisation (Fao) should pursue in the years immediately ahead," said Mr David Wilson, leader of the New Zealand delegation, in his opening address at the Quebec Conference, according, to a report from the delegation to the Minister of External Affairs. " A mere fact-finding agency will not be sufficient," said Mr Wilson. "On the contrary, it would fall far short of the expectations resulting from the resolutions of the Hot Springs conference."

New Zealand had a particular interest and a special responsibility, as she was basicallv an agricultural country with a highly-specialised economy based predominantly on the production and export of staple foodstuffs. New Zealand had a unique capacity for making in the future, as in the past, a major contribution towards the objective of freedom from fear of want, not merely for her own pepole, but for millions elsewhere. Her importance in this respect was demonstrated by the fact that over the war period New Zealand shipped abroad approximately 9,000 million pounds of food, mainly meat and dairy products all of hgih protein value, to feed the people of Britain and the armed forces of the allies in Europe, North Africa, and the South Pacific These great surpluses were the result not simply of a bounteous Providence, but of the high degree of efficiency New Zealand had attained in the production, processing, and marketing of farm products. " We believe that we have gone far in New Zealand towards solving some of the economic and social problems that have beset mankind for generations past, but we wish to do more than that. We are anxious to play a' part in the larger world community in the tasks of peace commensurate with New Zealand's record in the two world wars. '" New Zealand can make a worthwhile contribution, and ~we hope through Fao to be given the opportunity." concluded 'Mr Wilson.