FARMING AFFAIRS

Lake County Mail, Issue 17, 17 September 1947, Page 2

FARMING AFFAIRS

British Meat Ration

AID TO BRITAIN

This column is supplied weekly by Federated Farmers’ of New Zealand. The information given is official, but any views expressed are those of the Federation and are not necessarily those of this newspaper.

Of most immediate concern to farmers regarding the Aid to Britain campaign is the fertiliser position. Additional supplies have been made available and at the request of the delegates who represented Federated Farmers at the recent national conference in Wellington, convened by the Prime Minister, efforts are being made to provide better transport facilities for delivery ex works to farm

The recent advance in price, however, caused by the withdrawal of subsidies, has apparently caused many farmers to fear that they will not be able to recover that increased cost. The result has been that many fertiliser orders have been cancelled. Immediately news of that action was received, Mr H. E. Blyde, acting-Do-minion president, issued a statement exhorting farmers to take immediate delivery of their full orders. He gave a definite assurance that produce prices would be increased to take care of the advanced prices of fertiliser and othci farm requisites consequent upon the •Budget statement regarding the withdrawal of certain subsidies. Mr Blyde was then followed by Mr J. Evans, general manager of the Meat Board, who issued a similar statement, and by Mr Cullen, Minister of Agriculture, in a special broadcast on September 4. All three leaders gave the same assurance, that increased produce prices would be given to take care of the increased costs due to the withdrawal of any subsidies. And all three stressed the need for the full use of the fertiliser ration available. Full Use of Ration After such extensive publicity it is to be hoped that farmers will cover their full orders. His interests are being fully safeguarded and it is his duty to make full use of his fertiliser ration. Without necessary top-dressing, the production must suffer. New Zealand would not then be playing its part in meeting the needs of Britain and farmers themselves would suffer needlessly as their land deteriorated. The reported hasty action of the few producers who suffered last week’s attack of “ price jitters ” should bo remedied if Britain is to be assisted by increased production. A little calm reflection should show them the damage of cancelling fertiliser orders. Federated Farmers, as the producers own organisation, is watching the price position very closely and no policy inimical to the farmers’ interests will be condoned. The present crisis is a grave one for Britain and the Empire. While the necessary price adjustments may take a little time, they will surely be made. Meanwhile, the call is for the greatest possible effort to export more and more primary products from New Zealand. Any ill-considered action consequent upon failure to appreciate any part of the over-all economic position will jeopardise both the cause and the result.

Few people in New Zealand appear to realise that the official British weekly meat ration of Is included 2d worth of corned and tinned meat, thus leaving only lOd worth of fresh or frozen meat available per person, said Mr W. W. Mulholland, in a special interview on his return from Britain last week. The difficulty of the meat supply situation was aggravated by the tremendously heavy losses of stock in the last winter storms. Mr Mulholland said that he lias learned of eases where 50 to 75 per cent: of sheep flocks had died in the snow.