FOOD FOR BRITAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 May 1946, Page 2

FOOD FOR BRITAIN

CAMPAIGN BY FEDERATED FARMERS ‘ GOVERNMENT CO-OPERATION (P.A.) WANGANUI, May 29. “I have only one purpose and one objective in coming here this morning, and that is to help the Federated Farmers to launch their own compaign to help Britain in her appeal for more food in her hour of need," said the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. B. Roberts, addressing an interprovincial conference of Federated Farmers.

“It would be the height of presumption on my part to make a Government appeal here,” he added. “I have not come to do that. I have come to pledge the Government’s i goodwill and co-operation in your plans. I want to back your own inspirations to help a most gallant, heroic, and long-suffering people—our own kith and kin, our own flesh and blood, the people who in 1940 and 1941 stood alone against the most cruel and diabolical infamy that ever cursed the world, and saved you anu me, and civilisation itself, from annihilation and extinction. It does not require special insight to discern that a campaign for more production inspired from within your own ranks will be a thousand times better and more effective than any Government appeals, although you can count on our help.” , The Minister reviewed the activities to foster the Save-More-Food Campaign. “During the period in which the voluntary saving-of-food campaign has been operating, we have saved two and a half tons of butter and 40 tons of meat every week,” said Mr. Roberts, “but, thankful as we are for this effort, drought conditions in Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, Waikato, and North Auckland have considerably reduced our efforts, and n-’e feel that something more should be done. During the 40 years I have been in this Dominion, I have never seen farmers let the Empii e down. Lknow, and you know, that if we can lift this great objective above party politics to a higher plane of Empire effort and high moral purpose, our’ souls will be clean, and we shall have done the greatest job of our lives.”