FRUSTRATION OF FARMERS ALLEGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22891, 10 March 1949, Page 6

FRUSTRATION OF FARMERS ALLEGED

STEP UP PRODUCTION!

A fooling that their efforts to increase production in the past had been shrouded in an atmosphere of frustration created by

“an unsympathetic Government/’ as one speaker put it, was voiced by spokesmen at a meeting of farmers organised by Federated Farmers in the Bon Accord rooms on Tuesday evening to hear an address by Mr. E. Bruce Levy, director of the Grasslands Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and a world authority on pastures and their management.

Although no resolution was forthcoming relative to the point, the statements of two farmers, Messrs. A. C. Wood and 11. D. C. Lange, that tlie men on the land had a natural urge to increase production and would put “their heart and soul into the task” if there was some encouragement from Wellington, were generally well received by the audience.

The chairman, Mr. S. McGuinness, provincial president of Federated Farmers, drew attention to the fact that Britain had asked for increased exports from the Dominion, the targets being 50,000 tons more meat and 30,000 lons more of dairy products. Mr. Levy was on the eve of his departure for Great Britain, where he was to give a series of lectures and wished to sound out the opinions of farmers in the Dominion in regard to the question of increased production before he left. Question and Answer “I regard that 50,000 tons as a fleabite and that we should get considerably more,” said Mr. Levy at the conclusion of his address. While the address, including his plan for increased production, occupied an hour, the meeting kept Mr. Levy engaged for a further hour and a-half on question and answer. Questions were invited by the chairman who referred to Mr. Levy’s address as one provocative of much thought. In reply to Mr. S. D. Reeves, who asked how the programme could be implemented if the farmers were to be limited to 700,000 tons of phosphate and if more could be expected, Mr. Levy said he did not know the situation in regard to future supplies, but that farmers’ organisations should clamour for more.

Later, dealing with the same matter and the same questioner, Mr. Levy explained that the availability of fertiliser would not be the only limiting factor.

He contended that a third of the fertiliser used in New Zealand was wasted. Trials had shown that it was wasted on pastures not containing clovers. It was the efficient use of the fertilisers that was required. Mr. A. C. Wood confirmed the opinion of Mr. Levy concerning the feeling of frustration with the farming community. Hill Country Problems Speaking as a hill-country farmer, he said that feeling appeared to be real, and quoted the removal of subsidies on fertiliser and lime. Many farmers had made efforts to increase their production, but had been frustrated in every direction, he said. Rotational grazing had been restricted because of the inability of farmers to get their requirements of wire. He asked how Mr. Levy intended to restore the confidence of the farmers? While Mr. Levy said he was sympathetic and knew all the problems, he contended that the farmers had to organise themselves, otherwise they would be jeopardising farming for future generations. The Government could not always be blamed. For instance, he understood, the Government had. been advised to remove fertiliser subsidies by the leaders of the industry. “Are we going to let this feeling of frustration permeate the industry; are we going to take it lying clown?” asked Mr. Levy. "It would be better to cast off the gloom hindering our progress. I could talk techniques at length, hut it would do no good. The call is for production. Let us get our spirit into the work.” Aerial Spreading of Fertiliser

In reply to Mr. E. M. Monckton. Mr. Levy said he thought aerial spreading of fertiliser had a future. He said there was a move afoot to experimentally topdress 100 acres in the Wairarapa. He was in the Raglan district when a trial was made and “it was a great thrill when standing on a hill there to have the pellets coming down on my hat.” The Air Force had taken it up quite seriously, he said, and if they could get the suitable aircraft he thought they would soon achieve success“it is only a. matter of organisation within the industry and pushing for these developments that you will get them,” he continued. After stating that it should be possible with a tremendous industry such as farming to out-bid secondary industries for labour with improved housing in the country and higher wages, Mr. Levy said he realised that the individual farmer had to compete with secondary industry. However, that was a matter for pools controlled by the industry and subsidising the effort. Describing the method of oversowing in reply to a question by Mr. J. G. A. McGregor, who said little had been done in this district, Mr. Levy explained that poorer results had been obtained in this district than others.

He said it was necessary to get the clovers in in the autumn to escape the depredations of birds. Oversowing and top-dressing must go hand in hand, he said. A suitable mixture was Jib of Lotus major, 21b subterranean clover and 11b of mother white clover, or 21b of mother white if possible. That was for the wetter country with over 40in. of rainfall or where hard fern or ring fern was growing. In the drier country the Lotus major should be left out. It was preferable to have some roughage as a protection. Montgomery red and broad red clovers should not be used unless the farmer was prepared to spell the area sown in November. Also it added up the cost of the mixture. Sheep anti Cattle Balance Asked his opinion regarding the importance of sheep and cattle balance and his opinion as to the correct ratio, Mr. Levy explained to Mr. Lawson Field that he did not consider it important. He had not made a study of that point and had no trials to support his views. He had a wish to experiment with that work, but did not have the space at Te Awa.

He had suggested that the P.B. Catchment Board should institute that trial and other experiments concerning management at the Waerenga-o-kuri conservation block and it might come into being in a few years, he added.

Mr. Levy agreed that incentive had a great deal to do with the ultimate response to the call for increased production.

Mr. 11. D. C. Lange said a “sympathetic Government would be a great help” to the farming community. The gathering had

taken the address to heart and it was realised that farmers in Gisborne “had scarcely scratched the surface yet.” He felt sure that all farmers would be quite satisfied to do all in their power to help “if we get a little sympathy from Wellington.”

Mr. Levy: I will put that sentiment forward. The present Government lias not been bad. Are you sure that it has had all the co-operation and sympathy from the farmers? 1 think it is time to collaborate with whatever Government is in power. Mr. A. C- Wood: I' am sure there is not one of us who would not attempt heart and soul to increase production if it were possible to do so. Farmers are getting a little suspicious of pools,

Would our own organisation have full control? , , , . , Mr. Levy: The suggested pool would be within your own organisation and the farmer would not be the loser. A pool for the administration and development of land would be the soundest investment of the lot. It could subsidise scrub-cutting, top-dressing, grass seed, fencing and the like. In that way production would be aided- If farmers were given double returns for their wool the extra money might be spent in a new car or a day or two more at the races. Replying to Mr. R. F. Holden, Mr. Levy said guaranteed markets were just as important as the guaranteed price. It appeared as it the Argentine were “going out of business a bit,” Australia was turning to industrial exextension, there bad been a decline in American exports of primary produce, and New Zealand was left as the largest exporting country. Assurance For the Future The market seemed fairly well assured for the future. It was an important point and he said he would attempt to get. a reply to that question when in Britain. Mr. T. C. L. Williams asked if special purpose pastures on hill country in this district would stand up to dry summers? Mr. Levy replied that it might mean that from time to time more stock would be sent to the Waikato and the Wairarapa when it was found necessary to lighten up. However, high production always would win out. The special purpose pastures were found to he more persistent. Mr- G. V. Smith agreed that there were many worn-out pastures in the district and considered that carrying capacity could be doubled in instances without the use of fertiliser. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Levy, on the motion of Mr. Reeves, and carried by acclagiaUgn.