SEASON'S PROGRAMME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24850, 25 February 1942, Page 6

SEASON'S PROGRAMME

DISCUSSION BY FARMERS WARNING BY DIRECTOR SERIOUS OUTLOOK FOR MEAT AND BUTTER The agricultural production programme for the coming season was discussed at length last night by a meeting called by the Dunedin Primary Production Council, and attended by representatives of farming and business organisations in Otago. An address on the subject was given by Mr R. B. Tennent, the Director of Primary Production, who dealt with the serious problems facing the farming industry, especially in respect to meat and butter production, and sought the co-operation, of farmers in the country's war effort. Mr A. C. Leary presided. "The meat position to-day is a serious one," Mr Tennent said. "On October 1, 1941, there was a total carry-over of 88,408 tons of meat, including 77,902 tons of export meat. The estimated kill for the 1941-42 season is 318,000 tons, including 248,000 tons of frozen meat. With the carryover of 77,902 tons, we shall have a total of J 325.902 tons at the close of the season. We shall possibly be able to ship to Britain 190,000 tons this year, leaving 135,000 tons on our hands. That depends, of course, on whether our shipping programme is kept up to schedule. We may be able to ship more, or it may be less. "Our storage accommodation is rapidly being increased," Mr Tennent said, "and that should help the position. But it seems that we shall be in the unhappy position of having on our hands this year vast quantities of meat with no immediate prospect of selling it." Surplus Stocks of Butter

The position of the dairy farmer was also dealt with by Mr Tennent, who said that it would be recalled that Britain had asked New Zealand to increase cheese production and reduce the production of butter. Many farmers had already switched over from butter to cheese production. "The quantity of cheese in store on August 1, 1941, was 10,000 tons," Mr Tennent said, " and the estimated manufacture from August 1 last to the end of July next was 153,000 tons. The total quantity of cheese available for export this season will be 163,000 tons. Britain has agreed to buy 160,000 tons, and so it is not anticipated that there will be any problem of production or storage of cheese this season. "The position of butter is definitely serious," Mr Tennent said. " On August 1 last, there were 18,000 tons on hand, and the estimated manufacture for the season ending on July 31 next is 105,000 tons, giving a total of 123,000 tons. We have no purchase contract with the Ministry of Food in Britain, but it will lift what it can. Britain will try to take 90,000 tons this season. Assuming that the present shipping position is maintained, and this quantity is shipped, it will leave a balance of 43,000 tons at the end of July this year. That is a considerable quantity of butter to have in store with no immediate market. Everyone will agree that we shall have to trim our sails according to the way the wind blows, and it is not blowing too well for us. Linen Flax Industry "The prospects for arable farming are much brighter." Mr Tennent said. " Within the shorf space of nine months New Zealand established a linen flax industry as great as the pre-war industry of Ireland. Within two years, 17 factories had been established—a greater number of factories than in any other country in the world. Moreover, no other country has mechanised the industry as New Zealand has done. To-day We are to Britain one of the most necessary products she requires." Mr Tennent said that the barley and wheat position ( in New Zealand was satisfactory. The success of the small seeds programme was stressed by the speaker, who said that the production of rape, turnip, and grass and clover seed was most satisfactory. He gave farmers an assurance that, unless something drastic happened, the fertiliser ration would be the same as last year.

" There are two main weaknesses today," Mr Tennent added. " They are the tendency to decrease the acreage of potatoes and the' reduction in the acreage of wheat. It is essential for us to aim at an acreage of 20,000 acres of potatoes and 300,000 acres of wheat this year."