Object To Primary Production Chief’s Statement

Northern Advocate, 12 April 1940, Page 3

Object To Primary Production Chief’s Statement

Strong exception to a statement ‘made by the Director of Primary Production (Mr R. B. Tennent) in Whangarei was voiced at the Dairy Board ward conference yesterday by Mr S. W. Smith (Bay of Islands). The following resolution was carried: “That this conference expresses the opinion, from published statements of Mr Tennent, of the National Primary Production Council, that this gentleman does not fully understand the problems facing the dairy industry, and further disagrees with the disaparaging remarks inferring that farmers are not pulling their weight in the production effort. “His specific statement that an increase in production of 10 per cent is very easily possible, is equivalent to ,a charge of either laziness or inefficiency.” As a farmer, Mr Smith said he resented being told how to run his business by town workers and others who, judging by their opinions, did hot know the ABC of farming. He did not know what the National Council of Primary Production was doing, except that it was an expensive organisation and that there was a great deal of theory which could not be applied practically. Such statements as had been made by Mr Tennent were definitely damaging to the farming industry and looked as if the person responsible was trying to put the farming industry off side. Mr Tennent should be made aware that farmers took exception to his statement, added Mr Smith.