PRODUCTION COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1944, Page 3

PRODUCTION COUNCIL

MEETING AT GREYMOUTH

Mr. D. B. Jellie presided over yesterday’s meeting of the West Coast Council of Primary Production. Also present were Messrs W. Clayton, M. Minehan, W. Vallance, G. G. M. Mitchell, H. G, Carter, and J. Mulcare (secretary), also Mr. J; Fleming, Agriculture , Department Stock Inspector. In reply to representations made during his visit to Greymouth the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Roberts) wrote stating that he rad discussed with the Minister of Supply the supply of petrol for herd-testing work and had been informed that al! licenses for this work were authorised by the Dominion Oil Fuel Controller each month on the recommendation of the Dairy Board. No recent applications had been received in respect of the West Coast, but the Dairy Board had* advised that application would be made in the near future.

Mr. Roberts said he had investigated the subject of bran and crushed oats for winter feed. The supply of crushed cats could not be improved till further supplies on order reached the Dominion. Bran was reserved for the use of pig and poultry farmers except in a' very, limited number of cases where on the recommendation of officers of the Department of Agriculture a ration was made available by the Wheat and Flour Controller for cows producing milk for city consumption. At present it -was evident that little could be done regarding bran and crushed oats, but that further use must be made of farm grown substitutes plus linseed and other meals now available.

Concerning the problem of river erosion, Mr. Roberts said he had taken up the matter with the Minister of Works, who advised that very few bulldozers were becoming available for importation and so far it had not been found possible to allocate one to the Westland County Council. The machine directed to the North Island had been sent there, after the County’s claims had been given full consideration, sawmill work taking Erosion generally was controlled by the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council. Several cases of men in the armed forces whose release was desired were discussed, and in one case of a man who had been in the army for two years it was decided to make representations to a higher authority, probably the Prime Minister. The chairman reported that as a result of representations made by him to the Transport Authority arrangements, had been made for bobby calves in- the Hari Hari district to be picked up at farm gates in future. The chairman was thanked for his efforts in the matter.

The . Tirau Primary Production i Council wrote drawing attention to the problem of rtiral housing, stating that production was being held upowing to the inability of farmers to house men. The need for further provision, tspee-ally . for returned men wishing to engage in farming, was stressed and support for the Council’s representations on the matter asked for.

It was decided to support the Tirau Council in the matter. On the motion of Mr. Vallance it wag decided to draw the Government’ attention to the need which would arise again next winter for supplies of crushed oats and bran.