Urges State Action To Aid Formers

Northern Advocate, 18 February 1946, Page 4

Urges State Action To Aid Formers

j The urgent need for Government | action In relieve the position conseiquent on drought conditions in NorthI land, was emphasised by Mr. A. Bris-cce-Moore, of Whangarei, Dominion ! vice-president of the Farmers’ Union. Mr. Moore made suggestions for cxj tension of freezing works hours for ! a limited period, and for the transfer ! by the Government of hav and other ’ supplementary feeds from the south to Northland.

Approached as a Farmers’ Union leader by many farmers concerned with the stock position, Mr. Moore said that in view of the urgent need of conserving food for Britain and the serious conditions as a result of the drought he thoubht the Government should take two steps without delay. EXTENSION OF HOURS In the first place the hours of work at freezing works should be extended ■for a limited period—perhaps three weeks would do—to allow the killing of fat and boner stock, which now was fit to kill, but which was rapidly falling in condition owing to the lack of feed, and which would be unfit to kill for export unless it was dealt with within a fortnight nt the outside.

It was well known that farmers were holding stock like boner cattle, and fat calves on run cows, which wop being pulled down in condition by the calves, because they could not get them into the works. These cattle were slowiy starving away, but if the hours of freezing works were extended there would be /nine chance of dealing with them. FODDER FROM SOUTH

Secondly the Government should take immediate stops to bring hay and other fodder available in the south by rail or ship to Northland, and sell it to farmers at a cheap rate. The distribution could be on the basis of the number of cattle, but it had to be remembered that breeding and run catt'e were affected just, as much as tk'ifv cows.

8 he purpose behind this proposal was to try to keep a little condition on the stock, so that it would be alive instead of dead by next season, said Mr. Moore. Unless steps were taken without delay there would be thousands of dead beasts throughout Northland by September. This would represent a heavy loss in next season's exports. Unless rain occurred soon, and unless supplementaary feed was made available, the cattle would go into the winter in poor condition, and would not survive.

“It is of no use waiting for rain.” Mr. Moore continued. “We need to feed the stock now. If it does rain soon there are no hay reserves. Either there was no hay to harvest or that harvested has been used. I do not think there is more than 15 per cent of the usual hay crop available for normal winter feeding.”