RESTORING THE MEANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26199, 9 July 1946, Page 6

RESTORING THE MEANS

GREATER FOOD PRODUCTION LIVE STOCK AS RELIEF AID (Special) WELLINGTON, July 4. Since the start of U.N.R.R.A. operations the urgent call of starving people Ijas been for food, but there has also been a persistent call to restore the basic means of food production in countries now dependent on outside help. In response to a plea for agricultural rehabilitation, the first vessel of farm animals was despatched from Baltimore for Greece during the last week of June, 1945, with 335 heifers, 12 bulls, and 375 horses aboard.

In the past 12 months U.N.R.R.A. has sent over 100,000 head of live stock to Jugoslavia, Greece Poland. Czechoslovakia, Italy, and China. Of these, 82,000 were work animals and 20,000 dairy cattle. They went forward in 150 boatloads from five countries to help cultivate fields and provide milk for hungry children. The Directorgeneral of U.N.R.R.A. Mr F. L. La Guardia, in releasing these facts, emphasised that no meat animals were sent and that dairy cattle in Europe were roughage consumers, grazing and not being fed grain. “Live stock shipments are weii under, way’’ he said. “Between now and the end of December we expect to ship another 200,000 head. Nearly all countries from which U.N.R.R.A. draws supplies have offered farm stock to us and expended live-stock fleets enabling U.N.R.R.A. to pick up these animals at a much faster rate. You cannot load live- horses into boats as you would wheat or cotton or even farm maC "Wifh the co-pperation of the Department of Agriculture, U.N.R.R.A. has made' arrangements for buying and shipping 150,000 mares from the United States between now and December. U.N.R.R.A. is sending them to Europe to replace men and women in front of ploughs.” Eighty-five per cent, of the animals landed would provide draft power, and the future purchase programme in the United States would concentrate on horses, Mr Le Guardia added. U.N.R.R.A. would continue to ship dairy cattle given by individuals and organisations to relieve suffering and keep up rehabilitation. The Director-general also mentioned livestock procured in other nations supplying goods to the administration. Six thousand to seven thousand mares and mules were being forwarded from Mexico; 25,000 mules were purchased for Jugoslavia and Greece from the United States military surplus in Italy; 4500 donkeys came from Cyprus as part of the British contribution, and 6000 horses had crossed the Baltic to Poland. Portion of a Danish gift of 10,000 animals had also been received, together with some from South Africa and Ireland. Canada, Iceland, and Brazil are also expected to furnish a portion of the 200,000 draft animals required during the remainder of 1946.