LESS PRODUCTION

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1942, Page 4

LESS PRODUCTION

N.Z. MEAT & BUTTER Needs of New War Situation P.A. WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. Arrangements made with the United Kingdom for the purchase of New Zealand’s main primary products during the period of the present war were outlined, in general terms, by the Minister of Marketing (Hon. J. G. Barclay), in an address to-night. He said that, though agreements had not been completed, negotiations had reached a stage that enabled him to indicate the likely trend that these agreements would take. He gave details of the meat and dairy produce agreements. The Minister said that it was obvious that there should be no programme of increased production for either meat or butter, but, rather, that the production should at least be stabilised, and, be reduced by the individual dairy farmers and sheepfarmers, wherever possible, by the additional, culling of herds and flocks.

Furthermore, it might be possible 'or the farmers in certain districts to divert production into other channels. For instance, there was an urgent need for greater wheat growing in New Zealand. “To sum up the position,” said Mr Barclay, “it can be said that the long-term interests of the Dominion would ;be better served by a tendency to "decrease export meat and butter production, because the postwar possibilities facing both industries will be largely influenced by the amount of accumulated produce in store at the end of the emergency period, and, if the stocks can be kept, within reasonable limits, the position of our export industries will be greatly strengthened. To offset the need for less production of meat and butter, there is need for greater production of wheat, linen flax, cheese, and possibly other milk products, such as whole milk powder.