The NORTHLAND FARMER

Northern Advocate, 13 May 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

The NORTHLAND FARMER

A page prepared for the purpose of helping the Northland farmer to make the utmost use of the remarkable advantages which Nature has bestowed on Northland, and thereby to develop the most fertile territory in New Zealand.

It is perhaps timely to make some statement, as fair and unbiassed as possible, .and based on the facts, concerning export restrictions placed on certain lines of our meat. The present restriction of 3 per cent, on mutton (not lamb) is applied to last year’s killings. Last year was not a good year, hence the percentage would represent a much larger cut in a good year. We have been unfortunate this year in that an abnormally dry year has caused farmers to quit a good deal of stock that would otherwise have been held over the winter months. Unseasonable Weather The rain came so late that cold weather, and consequent lack of autumn growth, were the reasonable anticipation of prudent farmers. It was thus essential to cut all stock down to .an absolute minimum. Ewes that might have been held, wethers that would have been used in cleaning up country, dairy cows whose value was at all doubtful, and pigs that had any chance of not surviving the winter, all went forward while they still held some condition. Never before have there been killed so many pigs of only 201 b and upwards in weight, and exporters had to fix ..prices for light-weight pigs that had never before even been Considered in their schedules. ! The effect on wethers and ewes ws that practically half those now in cool store must be held. The effect on storage space was serious, and did j'ead to the ceasing of killing in some works that were congested, although the position has been somewhat re- ■ lieved of liate.

Position Will Right Itself : The position will right itself to some extent in the coming season, as the abnormal killings now mean probably subnormal killings later on, the total animal population on farms not having increased of late in New Zealand. ' There will be more expense entailed, however, in keeping these carcases in storage, and if works cannot work to capacity owing to this congestion, total costs must increase. A further complication that faces farmers is that owing to our import restrictions, and, ships consequently having to come out either partially loaded or even in ballast, freight rates may rise even beyond the present 15 per cent., which the shipping companies are demanding. Complicated Position The position is even more complicated by the fact that sterling funds in London will not be built up as fast as anticipated, as the produce is net going on to the market, and there will not therefore be the credits in London, With a decreasing rate of the building up of these funds, and the necessity, therefore, for the continuation of import restrictions, the Government is faced with a very com-

Export Restrictions

plicated position. Normally, it would be relieved by an external loan floated in London, but the'policy of the Government is not, apparently, in favour of such .a course. To form an accurate estimate of the real position, one must look at all things from the point of view of Britain. The British Point of View For a considerable time, British farmers have been battling to have a Minister cf Agriculture that represented their interests uncompromisingly. They had succeeded in the recent appointment of Sir Reginald Dorman Smith, former president of their Farmers’ Union. The position of any Minister of Agriculture is a much more difficult one in Britain than in New Zealand. Carrying, as Britain does, a very vast industrial population that is admittedly underfed, cheap foodstuffs are essential to its well-being, as any rise in the price of meat or other produce has a serious effect on the health of the people. A lengthy and convincingarticle on this question was recently published by a very distinguished scientist in the Journal cf the Imperial Institute of Animal Nutrition. If,

however, produce falls below a certain price level, the British farmer is adversely affected. Britain is in such a position that she cannot allow her farmers to even partially cease production. This is a matter oven more to the fore to-day than ever, owing to the disturbed state of the international situation and the necessity of Britain relying to as large an extent as possible for Her food on her own output. We must bear this very much in mind, as it is the one factor that brings farmers and Indus-: trialists together, and enables a Minister of Agriculture to take a strong line to assist the British farmer. Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith has taken full advantage of this fact, and no one can criticise hi min the present state of affairs' for so doing. Import Restrictions’ Influence There can be little doubt that our import restrictions, however unavoidable they might have been, will have still further driven the British industrialist and farmer into the same camp. Neither of these classes is at all concerned with our domestic politics. That -is our own affair. Their trade and well-being alone affects

them, and wo arc probably not popular with either of them at the moment. British papers give us this impression quite definitely, and commonsense tells us that it must be time.

Beyond pointing out the position of the matter in .an unbiassed way. one can go no further. The questions are for the Government to settle, and it is to be hoped that the Hon. Walter Nash will find some solution of the difficulties. some way out of the complications, after his discussions in London. Now Zealand farmers will hope that his visit will bo successful, as it is very serious indeed that a primary producing, and only partially developed country, should be checked. A Saving Consideration There Is one very important matter which all farmers should bear in mind, however the matter goes, and that is that restrictions only affect the lower quality products. There will always be ample market for the highest grade butter, cheese or meat. The best lambs and pigs and chilled cattle are definitely in demand, and those farmers that produce these must continue to do well, and to have no difficulty in marketing their produce. If, therefore, nothing further comes out of the situation now obtaining, there will at least be an added incentive to better quality production. This will undoubtedly affect local consumption, and will also act as a stimulus to consumption overseas.

In writing these articles, it will therefore be my aim to endeavour to call attention to the main principles governing the production of the best quality of produce, and, in order to put the information in the most understandable and concrete form, to call attention to the farmers in our district who, by their thought, application and industry, have achieved what we must ail endeavour to achieve, if our name for quality is to remain high in the markets of the Old World —principally of Britain.