LAND IMPROVEMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 168, 15 June 1940, Page 3

LAND IMPROVEMENT.

CRITICISM OF COST. HASTINGS, June 13. Opposition to a statement made by the Director ol the Grasslands Division of the Plant Research Bureau (Mr Bruce Levy), at the meeting of sheeplarmers at Massey College, was expressed by Mr J. B. Campbell at a meeting of Hawke’s Bay farmers, air Lew was reported as saving that it was” his firm opinion that, as a wartime measure, it not ior. the sake ol the efficiency of land utilisation and production itself, New Zealand should embark on a . big plough-up, re-sow and build fertility policy. “I am quite sure there is not a grassland farmer in the Dominion who does not agree with Mr Levy’s statement,” said Mr Campbell. “Every practical farmer knows, however—and no doubt Mr Levy knows, too, but did not say so—that to carry out such a poliev would cost £5 an acre. Where' is the money to come from to handle the millions of acres/Mr Levy talks about? Surely it is time the Government got down to tin tacks and, before sending its officers to give advice of which farmers are- already aware, see to it that the one basic essential to increased production, finance, is available to the fullest extent required.” Mr Campbell also read a statement reported to have been made at Massey College that there were some farmers with a lot of land and a lot of money who were just satisfied to carry on as they had done in the past and not stir themselves to aid the war effort. The reported reply to this by the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture (Mr A. HCockayne) was: “Tf there are men like that, make their lives a hell, so that they must do something.” “If such a statement was correct T am sure every member would agree with the sentiments expressed,” said Mr Campbell. “But what I should like to know is where and who are these farmers with a lot' of -land and a lot of money who.are just satisfied to carry oh as in the past. The statement is pure ‘eyewash’ and propaganda' and an insult to the farming community. To broadcast such a statement throughout the. country appears to ho nothing less than a malicious attempt to discredit in the eyes of the public a- most patriotic section of-the community,”