No New Land For Farms In 17 Years

Northern Advocate, 5 August 1949, Page 7

No New Land For Farms In 17 Years

WELLINGTON, Fri. (Sp.)—ln the last 17 years the total area of occupied farming land in New Zealand had not varied materially, said the Director General of Agriculture (Mr E. J. Fawcett in his annual report presented to Parliament yesterday. The total ares occupied in 1925 was 43,632 acres compared With 43,100 acres in 1947, the latest figure available. Mr Fawcett said that further increases in primary production must come from a continuation of the intensive development of land already being farmed. Illustrating the intensification of farming, Mr Fawcett states that the number of cattle units per 100 acres rose from 38.8 in 1920 to 50.3 in 1947. There was also a considerable increase in the number of smaller family holdings ranging from 50 to 320 acres.

Mr Fawcett adds that the development of good-quality pastures, properly managed and top-drqssed with adequate supplies of phosphatic fertilisers, has been the main factor in bringing about the intensification of farming. Discussing the decline in the labour •force, the report states that it is ( extremely doubtful whether substantial increases in production, can be expected unless the present labour force is augmented considerably. UNIT COSTS There is a limit to the extent to which mechanisation can displace labour. Mr Fawcett concludes that New Zealand must concentrate on increased usage of fertilisers, the provision of more and better fodder, and mechanisation to the limit so that unit costs may be reduced. There must also be improvement in animal efficiency 'through breeding, feeding and avoidance of wastage, through disease control, improvement in coverage and productivity of hill country, and the ensurance of adequate labour to cope with farming developments. Each of these principles has a background of problems which must be faced by farmers and the whole community so that an expanding national economy may be achieved.