FEAR EXPRESSED BY FARMERS

Southland Times, Issue 24210, 21 August 1940, Page 4

FEAR EXPRESSED BY FARMERS

OVERPRODUCTION IN N.Z> ANNOUNCEMENT WANTED FROM GOVERNMENT (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, August 20. The desire of Canterbury farmers for information of the Government’s intentions about possible over-production in primary products is expressed in a telegram sent to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) today. The telegram was sent in accordance with a resolution passed at a meeting attended by representatives of the Farmers’ Union from all parts of Canterbury. The message to the Prime Minister is as follows:— “This group meeting of representatives of the Farmers’ Union of North Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury and South Canterbury respectfully urges the importance of an immediate pronouncement by the Government. of its intentions with regard to over-productiomof any primary product as the farmers are very dissatisfied with the situation which has arisen about potatoes and fear that the same difficulty may occur with other commodities.”

The possibility of over-production in certain crops under the stimulus of the campaign for increased.production was mentioned recently by speakers at a conference called to consider the scheme for increased cropping to supply the war needs. It was then stated that unless the scheme was efficiently controlled there might be considerable over-production of some crops with a depressive effect on prices. At today’s meeting it was emphasized that the farmers were eager and determined to do all they could to help the war effort and to supply whatever Great Britain needed.