Says Government Took Two Years To Answer

Northern Advocate, 14 April 1944, Page 5

Says Government Took Two Years To Answer

(Special) AUCKLAND, This Day. “The Government has taken two years to answer a question asked by the dairy industry, namely, whether the army or land had first call on the country’s manpower.” said the Secretary-Manager for Te Awamutu Co-operative Dairy Company (Mr. A. J. Sinclair) commenting upon the Government’s proposals for increased dairy production. i “The new dairying season is only 10 to 12 weeks away and every facility must be placed in the way of farmers desiring to engage labour for the 1944-45 season,” stated Mr. Sinclair. He suggested that an immediate start should be made by combing military camps.

“Dairy farmers will shortly be requested to indicate, through dairy companies, their labour requirements for the next season,” said Mr. Sinclair, “but they will be in a quandary because the two problems of manpower and fertiliser are interlocked. The dairy farmer has not got his tail down. He is working harder than ever, but with a sense of frustration because- pastures are deteriorating. He is reluctant to increase his dairy herd or engage additional labour, when the farm is beginning to show all evidences of fertiliser hunger. “The dairy farmer is now placing the matter of price last on his list of priorities for increased production,” concluded Mr. Sinclair. “His order of importance is fertiliser, manpower and price. If the Government can tackle the problem successfully from that angle, it need have no fear concerning the response which will be made by the industry to Britain’s urgent call for more food.”