Northland Age The Voice of the Far North FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1949 GOVERNMENT AID

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 77, 8 July 1949, Page 3

Northland Age The Voice of the Far North FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1949 GOVERNMENT AID

Our Government has called on many and divers occasions for more production as an aid to Britain, and there has definitely been an endeavour towards that end by very nu<ny farmers, and by very many individuals of other callings in the of our existence. But to that end, what has the Government done by way of aid to those that they ask for aid ? Has the way been made easier, or have things been allowed to drift along in slow, sweet manner, leaving all things in the air in the hopes that the farmer and the individual will help themselves ? It is to be feared that in many instances, or perhaps in most, the latter has prevailed. At the Sub-provincial Conference of the Federated Farmers through this past week, it was very evident that much could be done to give that aid. Whilst those worthy gentlemen were not considering the aspects of greater production, still, analysis could quite easily show how remedies applied in instances would benefit the output of farmers’ produc.ion. For instance, a remit was brought forward by Kaeo branch that the Government be asked to institute an investigation into ways and means of eradicating the growing menace of gorse. It was shown that already a weavil had been produced which attacks the seed of this plant, and thus holds it' somewhat in '’Peck. This is certainly not sufficient, and members showed that it was on account of the fact that in the South Island farmers found that gorse was necessary as a hedge, and often used it as a sheep food, that the Department concerned were not ready to delve deeply into this question. It was also pointed out that gorse grew very readily in the climate which prevailed in this Far North. Everything was in its favour, and with the shortage of labour there was very little hope of keeping its growth in check. In fact, it was announced, there were very many farms that were threatened by the spread of this noxious weed, and here the parasite did little more than hold growth in spots. Therefore, it will be readily seen that farmers have every right to ask for Government aid in such a matter. It is not for a farmers’ organisation to take the matter in hand, and have to expend monies which it has no chance of ever possessing to institute such investigation. This is a matter for the Plant Research Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, or for the Cawthron Institute. •So, viewing this broadly, farmers in places where gorse grows so readily should not be penalised by the few who find a need for it. It cannot be that the need becomes an essential. It can only be that apathy towards this by some person or persons is holding back an investigation that is an essential to farmers in the North. A relinquishing of this apathy, and an active investigation by the Government Department could bring about, through aid to the farmer, a greater aid to Britain, and that is what the Government is asking for. Perhaps much could be said on the aid which the Government gives the man on the land by way 0 f fertilizers, subsidies, end oflrier things. These are more or less debatable also, and in general are very necessary and outstanding in their need. It is these minor things that slip quietly past one’s notice that are also necessary and extremely urgent. The draining of swamp lands. The fencing of Crown and Native land boundaries which adjoin farm lands. The giving of permits for the cutting of timber for posts and battens. The building of State houses in rural areas for the housing of farm labour. In effect, Government aid should be more accessible in all those tilings which go towards making a contented nation, a nation that is pleased to create and produce all that is within its power to produce. All these things are every bit as necessary as Compulsory Military Service, and should receive the same immediate and urgent attention.