FOOD FOR ALLIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 18 April 1944, Page 3

FOOD FOR ALLIES

APPEAL TO FARMERS maximum production need The importance of maximum production by New Zealand dairy farmers to assist the early and victorious conclusion of the war was emphasised by Mr W. E. Hale, chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, in a broadcast address to farmers. Farmers had received at last the deal- and urgent call for which they had waited and he appealed to them on behalf of the Allied Nations for the maximum possible production of butter, cheese and milk products generally. “I fully realise that in the past the industry has suffered because of the lack of a long-term policy and the withdrawal of men from our farms, and because of the reluctance of those in authority to commit themselves to an all-out effort for food production,” said Mr Hale. "I realise that there are some who consi'der that the industry has not received the treatment and understanding necessary for a complete removal of all grievances. Well, that may be so, but the issue to-day is clearer than it has been right through the war. AN URGENT NEED “Britain and the Allied Nations arc in urgent need of food. They have appealed to us for a substantial increase in our food production. The invasion of Europe is at hand, and on the efforts and leadership of the next few months depend the speed with which victory will be ours. With a knowledge of this placed clearly before us, the leaders of your industry were unanimously of the opinion that there could be no hesitation —our duty is to produce to the limit of our capacity.” Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Mr Hale said the Dairy Board had passed the following resolution: “Having heard from the Prime Minister of the exchange of cablegrams regarding food supplies, and having heard Mr Bankcs Amery, the representative of the United Kingdom, this gathering of representatives of the primary producers highly resolves to do its utmost to prevent a further reduction in the rationing of food commodities to the people of Great Britain who have saved us and saved the world.” SUPPLYING MANPOWER “I now ask all dairy farmers to consider whether or not that resolution is an expression of their feelings and of • their determination to respond to Britain’s call,” Mr Hale added. The first and most obvious problem was that of manpower and the Prime Minister had told them that arrangements had been made to withdraw men from the armed forces for that job. It would be for farmers to indicate exactly how many they needed. The Government had accepted the responsibility of finding the The Government had in addition increased the price of butter-fat, accorded urgency to the building of creased the price of butter-fat, accorded urgency to the building of homes for farm workers and promised all help in supplying fertiliser, while it was now fully aware of the need for arresting the present decline in dairy cow numbers. The speaker appealed to every farmer to carry as many worthwhile milking cows as possible, and to do that they would have to look over their herds and decide which cows they could retain for at least another season. Irrespective of political considerations, differences of internal opinion or questions of economic adjustment, they stood committed as an industry to the urgent task of feed.ing the fighting services, Mr Hale said. Once again they had been pledged by their leaders to make a further effort, one that he hoped history would record as their greatest and best. To the extent that food supplies would determine the issue they alone could secure victory for the cause for which the United Nations had laboured and fought during the past four bitter years. He was sure they would not be found wanting.