THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1944. TO AID PRODUCTION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32417, 12 April 1944, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1944. TO AID PRODUCTION

Even if it is belated, the Government’s plan to arrest the decline in primary production and, if possible, to increase the flow of foodstuffs to the United Kingdom, should have some beneficial effect on an industry which was unfortunately languishing at a time when expansion was urgently required. The three cardinal remedies put forward by the industry as means of increasing production were a reasonable increase in prices, a-more adequate supply of labour and greater quantities of fertiliser. Increased prices, though they may not be all that the farmers expected, and more men for the farms have been promised. The supply of fertiliser is still, unfortunately, an indefinite quantity. There remains the political aspect which, whatever its merits as an argument, nevertheless has an 'effect upon production because of the dissatisfaction it causes. But this is a period of war emergency and there is not a doubt that the producers will employ the physical resources available to them, to achieve the main objective. England expects, and depends upon, New Zealand’s utmost effort to sustain the fighting forces.

Although it is not certain, it seems, that the decisions were made without taking into consideration the results of Mr Nash’s discussions in London regarding the contract prices paid by Britain for the Dominion’s primary produce. Nbr is it certain that even if a revision of those prices were made it would have any effect on the prices the New Zealand Government would pay the producers, because the return to the farmers has been fixed arbitrarily and does not depend alone on the market prices, even though it has been said that every penny the produce realises will eventually go to the producers. It can be accepted that the present increased price represents what the Government regards as an appropriate reward by comparison with the income of other sections of the community. That is the policy of control, and however it may appeal to the farmers as a permanent policy, it is hoped that any resentment will not be allowed to interfere with the effort to produce to the limit of physical capacity. The industry has, in addition to its wartime task, to consider its future and preserve and strengthen its essential assets against the coming of a happier day.

It cannot be denied that the Government’s proposals have improved the immediate prospects of the industry. The increase of 1.21 pence a pound of butterfat will result in an additional return to the industry of something like £1,800,000 in the coming season. The increase of a halfpenny a pound for pig meats is disappointing but will help. The relief from taxation of funds that would ordinarily go to the maintenance of the farm, the subsidy of three-fifths of £1 on all heifer calves reared above the number of five, and the release of men to work on the farms are all useful contributions to the achievement of the common objective. It is desirable that the subsidy on heifer calves should be accepted as of special importance because in the past three or four years there has been a very disturbing decline in the dairy herds of the Dominion. Whatever else is done the industry cannot remain healthy or fulfil its objective if it has not the essential base to work upon. To rebuild the herds is not a matter of weeks or months but of years. To assure the future steps must be taken in the season now near at hand to recover some of the lost ground.