The Grey River Argus Tuesday, November 30, 1943. FOOD FIRST.

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1943, Page 4

The Grey River Argus Tuesday, November 30, 1943. FOOD FIRST.

The extension of rationing' in New Zealand seems to be. indicated. For that reason, everyone able to augment food production ought to exploit available facilities. Large dehydration factories in course of erection spell an unprecedented demand for vegetables, which mostly will be for oversea consumers. Something like twenty tons of vegetables are reduced in bulk to one ton by these factories, so that it can be imagined how vast a quantity can be used up in the process. Meat and dairy produce also seem destined to become scarcer for civilian use. For one thing, the production is less than formerly, and so are the dairy herds, a proportion of which has already gone to the abattoirs. Food production during the present season may be good in New Zealand, but the question at the moment is evidently one of means to make it better than it might be without extra effort. The British newspaper proprietors’ delegation lias just emphasised that the role of this country, whatever it may be in the military sphere, is more important in the economic sphere as regards our contribution to the war effort. Sir W. Layton, in his comment on the position, implies that if it is a choice be tween sending men to the war front and sending them to the food front, the food front now ought to be given the preference. It is not the first time that this viewpoint has been advanced, and

the Government will no doubt give still greater consideration to it. The Dominion is scarcely under the same obligation now to figure in the European war as it was when the Americans were not upon the scene, and when the Allies had not the ascendancy that they exhibit so markedly in Europe to-day. If, as appears from the estimates of qualified oversea observers, New Zetland can hasten victory far more by feeding Allied forces and peoples oversea than by undermanning her farms in order to maintain a couple of Divisions abroad, the logical course is to man the farms to a far greater degree. For instance,. ’t would even be preferable to step up dairy production sufficiently to increase export than to restrict consumption in this country so as to increase export. The same conclusion is gaining ground in Australia, where meat rationing is increasingly questioned. There it is pointed out that rationing has been the result, not of depleted productive capacity, but depleted manpower. In some measure the same might be found to be the case in this country. At anyrate, the economic exigencies of the ivar mean for New Zealand a rather greater responsibility than the military ones. While able <to make only a comparatively minor military contribution we can certainly make a major economic contribution. The idea therefore should be greater production rather than lessened consumption. Though still to be extended the Allied military effort is nearing the required maximum, whereas, when the time comes that it can be finalised, the productive effort, especially with food and clothing material, must then be still further developed. In the light of the whole situation, it thus must b’e recognised that New Zealand now can make no mistake in putting its farm production before every other consideration.