NORTHLAND FARMERS

Grey River Argus, 4 May 1944, Page 6

NORTHLAND FARMERS

Mr S. G. Holland’s Tour P.A. WHANGAREI, May 3. Mr. S. G. Holland, Opposition Leader, returned to Whangarei this morning after a tour of Northland as far as Houhora. He said an outstanding feature of his visit was evidence of farmers’ anxiety to increase production of dairy produce. The main purpose of his tour was to encourage the production drive. He was very gratified by the response. He had formulated a scheme whereby an area hitherto used for aviation purposes in the far -north, as well as an adjacent area, could be transformed into a big dairy farm which would produce 66,000 pounds of butterfat, next season if adopted. He would bring it before the Government when he returned to Wellington. . He had been impressed by an imperative necessity for a supply of gumboots for farm workers if production were to be increased. He related instances of old women who were barefooted bringing in cows because gumboots were not procurable. Mr. Holland said he telegraphed to Mr. Sullivan urging efforts to provide this required footwear. Mr. Holland said he also found a great desire for straight super 1 instead of serpentine mixture. He intended to use his influence to have the farmers’ desires in this matter met as far as possible.