NEED FOR MORE PRODUCTION

Southland Times, Issue 24163, 27 June 1940, Page 2

NEED FOR MORE PRODUCTION

APPEAL MADE TO FARMERS

PROPOSALS FOR EASTERN DISTRICT EFFORT

The special committee set up by the Gore sub-executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to assist as far as it can in the organization of a special effort to increase primary production has considered the matter thoroughly and has drawn up recommendations and organization proposals. The committee maintains that the vital importance of primary production has never been greater than it is today and that the determination of every farmer to make every effort possible on his property to meet this need was well known.

The proposals drawn up by the committee for special needs for production follow the lines recommended by the acting Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. F. Langstone) last week. The Minister pointed out that he had asked that the production of mutton and lambs be maintained at this season’s level. The committee’s report states that at first glance jt-would appear as if the efforts in this direction will not have to be increased, but when it was realized that many areas of land which were at present producing this class of meat would have to be utilized in other directions, and when it was remembered that many ewes were slaughtered this season, making up a large proportion of this class of export, it would be realized that every effort would have to be made if the total effort was to be maintained.

“Though in both dairying and sheep farming it is impossible at short notice to increase the actual numbers of animals,” states the committee’s report, “it is possible to feed or make provision to feed animals better so that the production a cow is greater, the weight of the fleece is increased, the loss of lambs reduced and the weight of each lamb increased. All these things can be done at once by better feeding, and next year more young female stock can be kept, adequate provision having been made in the meantime for their feed requirements,” Public meetings, organized by the Farmers’ Union branches have been and are being held in all country districts in Eastern Southland. At these meetings the proposals and recommendations of the special committee are being explained to farmers and local committees are being set up. A card, together with an explanatory article, is to be sent soon to all farmers. The card will ask the farmer what efforts he can make with his present facilities and also what additional effort he would be prepared to make if contracting units were available in his district.

The three main difficulties in the way of increasing production are lack of labour, lack of finance, and uncertainty on the part of the farmer as to how his land should be best utilized for this purpose. The committee hopes that as a result of the card survey it will be possible to overcome the labour problem to a large extent. In the case of financial problems farmers are recommended to get in touch immediately with their stock firm, bank or other financial institution and submit a plan of what it is intended to do. If the problem is of an advisory nature farmers are urged to get in touch with their local committee, the Department of Agriculture, or the honoray secretary of the special committee, Mr S. D. Blomfield, Gore. Enthusiastic meetings have already been held at Maitland, Pukerau, Waikaka and Mandeville and representative committees have been set up in each district.

The Gore Stock Agents’ Association has also agreed to co-operate with the special committee and support its proposals to the best of its ability.