FARM PRODUCTION PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23626, 9 April 1940, Page 6

FARM PRODUCTION PLANS

If all official statements on New Zealand's farming problems were as vigorous and clear-sighted as that made to the Auckland District Council of Primary Production yesterday by the Director of Primary Production, Mr. 11. B. Tennent, and if prompt and effective performance could be given to the proposals outlined, there would be little difficulty in obtaining that greater output from the farmlands of the Dominion which has been the subject * of Ministerial appeals ever since the outbi'eak' of war. The need for co-operation has been urged—and rightly urged—by all qualified to speak on the subject; Mr. Tennent goes further and appeals not only for co-operation but for concentration in the drive for increased production. There has been a good deal of hopeful talk during the last few months concerning the clearing and breaking in of land not at present in use, but Mr. Tennent prefers to'take the view, previously advanced in these columns, that the initial effort should be directed toward obtaining greater results from land already in production. Better grass seed, more manuring and better stock can all assist in raising the productive capacity of existing farms and Mr. Tennent, while he acknowledges the desire and willingness of the Government to assist, is fully entitled to ask individual farmers to demonstrate a measure of self-reliance in meeting the urgent demands imposed by war. Farm labour, especially in its relation to recruiting, and rural housing are also sympathetically discussed by Mr. Tennent, but his remarks on farming finance appear to carry the suggestion that mortgage adjustments have not achieved all that has been claimed for them. Nevertheless, the programme outlined has a dynamic touch that has hitherto been lacking and it is to be hoped that both the Government and the farmers will co-operate in putting it into effect.