Early Action Declared Necessary

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 21 March 1944, Page 8

Early Action Declared Necessary

TO ARREST FALL IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION. There was unanimous agreement that the Government should immediately announce its plans to arrest the fall in primary production if any tangible results were to be looked for next season, at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington Central Provincial Executive of the Fanners’ Union at Marton. Mr. L. Hammond reported fully on the deliberations of the Dominion Exo cutive of the Farmers’ Union on the subject and of the subsequent deputa tion which waited on the Prime Minister. “As a result of our representations something is definitely being done,” said Mr. Hammond. He saia that it was recalled to Mr. Fraser tnat the position had been pointed out to him twelve months ago when production commenced to fall and now that the crisis was upon the country the Government was acting. It would not take advice from those who were in «a position to know the true situation, said Mr. Hammond but today Mr. Fraser was aware of the decline as well as of its extent. The meeting at this stage went into committee to hear Mr. Hammond on questions of a confidential nature which covered aspects of the country’s primary production position. On resuming in open meeting Mr. C. G. C. Dernier stressed the very serious decline in butter production stating that it could be traced to lack of labour on dairy farms and unremuuerativo prices. Last year 60,000 more cows had been slaughtered and this revealed the extent to which farmers were going out of dairying or reducing their herds because of inability to obtain labour and low prices. Labour he said was the most serious aspect and farmers could not face up to the task of maintaining large herds on their own. Cows had to be milked morning and night and this could not be done without labour. If a farmer lost a farm hand, whether ho was called up for service or merely left to take another job, the cows stiL had to be milked and the strain of facing up to this had commenced to tell on many farmers who could not carry on. The matter was very serious since the decline in production meant a loss of stock and it would tako years to recover to our pre-war strength in milking cows. Calves were being slaughtered along with cows which were being heavily culled. If this were not stopped the repercussions would be extremely serious. Mr. Dermer suggested that the plight of the dairy industry called for immediate examination as he estimated that it would take from five to seven years to build up dairy herds again. Mr. B. McLeod agreed that the decline in cow population was very serious and he supported the view that any delay in taking action to arrest the present drift would only lead to a national disaster. Farmers required to plan ahead and in the absence of adequatelabour had to curtail their activities. Many had struggled on in an effort to cope with the position .but found that it had not been possible. It was not a question of any lack of patriotism on the part of the farmer but physical requirements demanded some measure ot respite from his ardous labour. Mr. D. G. Gordon (president) moved, ‘‘That the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union be commended for its case presented to the Prime Minister and wo urge that immediate action be taken to arrest the slaughter of dairy cows and the decline in other directions in primary production.” Mr. F. C. Jurgens seconded the motion and Mr. T. Bergen suggested that the urgency of . the position should be stressed. Owing to the dry season milking would be finished earlier that usual and he knew that the culling of herds would bo heavy unless measures were taken to counteract such action. Dairy farmers, said Mr. Buchanan, should be advised to rear more heifer calves and every incentive given to enable this to be done. ‘‘The whole thing is to get things done in time,” said Mr. G. R. Lovelock. ‘‘There had been too much delay already in tackling this problem and liehoped that the Government would see the wisdom of acting immediately.” The resolution was carried without discussion.