VEGETABLE GROWING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 265, 8 October 1942, Page 5

VEGETABLE GROWING

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. "Tho institution of a programme of vegetable production for the Armed Forces under the control of the Department of Agriculture, as stated by the Minister, is well known to us," stated Mr L. V. Phillips (secretary of tho Dominion council of Commercial Gardeners), "and we hope the venture will be successful. But it is on the shoulders of the commercial grower that the responsibility rests of supplying the canning factories with their vast requirements, and it is he who must provide for the civilian demand. "We can only reiterate as a council that the commercial growers of the Dominion acted from a 6cnse of duty in informing tho public of New Zealand of the grave possibility of the Dominion's falling down on her commitments for vegotaKo production. This is a matter which should not become controversial. It is ono that should bo tackled in a calm, analytical manner, and an endeavour should be made to face the problem and not run away from it. The time for investigation and experiment has passed and all risks must be minimised. The urgency of the mattor demands immediate action and we have shown how best use can be made of existing production facilities.

"The vegetable position is more serious than the public realise," said Mr M. McDougal'.. at a meeting of tho Auckland District Council of Primary Production "The recent frosts, salt-water spray from the gales, and blight, have damaged crops in the Auckland district worth from £50,0)0 to £80.000.'; The acute shortage of labour still persisted.