N.Z.’s Wonderful Opportunity To Expand Production

Northern Advocate, 16 December 1939, Page 8

N.Z.’s Wonderful Opportunity To Expand Production

[Per Press Association, Copyright ]

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

Two fields of production in which the Dominion was given a wonderful opportunity for the expansion of trade were pig meat and butter, said the Minister for agriculture (Mr Lee Martin) last night.

He made a special .appeal to ail farmers to co-operate in a special effort made through the Primary Production Council and sub-councils to supply to the utmost limits the foodstuffs required by the Imperial Government both for military and civil purposes.

Indications of a substantial increase in butterfat production over that for last season were quoted by the Minister,

Last season’s production, he said, was considerably affected by unfavourable climatic conditions .and the aftermath of the outbreak of facial eczema. Smaller Herds, Bigger Output. “Great emphasis , has been made on the fact that during the last few years the herds of New Zealand have tended to be reduced in number,” said the Minister. “It must be remembered that the reduction has been brought about very largely through very extensive culling, and at the present time our cows are individually capable of producing far larger quantities of butterfat than the average cow in the past.

“It is clear that -in the forthcoming season there will not be the necessity to cull as heavily as has been done in the past.

“If this policy is adopted a very large increase in butterfat could be recorded.

Save Calves Next Season,

“Next season by saving further calves, it will be possible to bring herds' up to numbers greater than those of the past, at the same time continuously increasing our production.” The Minister emphasised that as far as England was concerned pig production was probably, if anything, more essential than that of the other types, especially as at the present time she was very largely dependent upon Danish supplies. The very perilous position in the North Sea was making the transport of supplies very difficult. Enormous Field For Expansion, “The position in regard to butter is very much the same," said Mr Lee Martin. “Pig meat and butter probably represent the two most important avenues for production from which real service will be given to the Empire. “There is an enormous field of expansion for the Dominion in that direction.”