LUNCHEON ADDRESSES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7077, 6 July 1949, Page 6

LUNCHEON ADDRESSES

BRITAIN’S FOOD POSITION

SPEECHES AT WESTFIELD

The hospitality of the sponsors of the Tomoana Porker and Baconer Competition held annually at the Westfield Freezing Works is always strikingly demonstrated in more ways than one, but never more so than in the excellent luncheon provided.

The organisation and preparation of the meal is no small task ami on Monday these factors were very much in evidence when 1000 guests were served expeditiously and with a 1 pleasing demeanour. The large conJ course of guests were seated at taste- . fully decorated tables set up in a portion of the wool storage room which in turn was decorated with national flags and emblems. Added importance was given to the occasion by the fact that it was graced by the presence of Mr D. S. Hendrie, B.Sc., Agricultural Adviser to the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom. Mr Hendrie was making his first public appearance before a gathering of farmers, and it can be said that he created a most favourable impression. His speech was admirable both in its subject matter and in delivery. Mr Hendrie will undoubtedly make very many friends in New Zealand and there is not the slightest doubt but that he will render great service for Britain and for New Zealand.

Mr A. Rowlands, general manager for W. and R. Fletcher, presided, and said:—

On behalf of the Company I extend a hearty welcome to you all, both competitors and visitors. In the earlier announcements you were told that their Excellencies, Sir Bernard and Lady Freyberg would be here to-day: the earlier opening of Parliament necessitated their Wellington and they extend tfliir regretful apologies with the promise to try and make it next year. We are delighted to have with us for his first official introduction to a l?ody of New Zealand farmer confreres, Mr Hendrie, Agricultural Adviser to the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, who will speak to you—also Mr W. N. Perry, President of Federated Farmers; Mr F. C. -Johnston, of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board; Mr H. de Bruin, Agricultural Attache, Netherlands Legation; Mr A. L. Lloyd, Auckland Provincial President Young Farmers Clubs; Mr Alex. Longwill, Superintendent of Pig Industry; Mr A. A. Lesilie, Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand Veterinaryi Council; Mr Ryder, Mr Alexander and Mr Ross, District Pig Council Chairmen; as well as representative breeders and competitors from all around the Island too numerous to mention. Please give them a hearty clap of welcome. I now have great pleasure in asking Mr Hendrie to say a few words, he is here to see what new ideas New Zealand has likely to help food production in the Home Land and to see if there is anything in the Old Country which could benefit us.” Mr Hendrie, who was given a cordial reception expressed pleasure at being present and said he considered it an honour to be with them. Mr Hendrie said he had only been in New Zealand for three weeks. Speaking in jocular vein Mr Hendrie said that Mr Rowlands had put it across him (the speaker) for he had told him that he would only be addressing a few pig farmers and he arrived to find himself speaking to a large audience of well-dressed and highly scientific farmers. Continuing, the speaker said that his appointment was a new one and he hoped to justify it during his stay in the Dominion. It would be his job to make the acquaintance of as many farmers as possible and learn as much as he could from them and make available to the British farmers any technical advice he obtained. Mr Hendrie referred in praiseworthy terms to the high standard of farming methods in New Zealand and he said that the reputation of research in New Zealand and their knowledge and practice of grassland farming stood very high in Britain. Another function he would perform would be to do everything possible to maintain and increase the good relations between New Zealand and British farmers. Speaking of the food position in Britain, Mr Hendrie said he was not going to give a false impression by saying that people in Britain were suffering from malnutrition for the calories in food content were 2900, compared with just over 3000 pre-war. They were fed more nourishingly than in pre-war, but a greater variety of proteins was necessary. There was a grave shortage of meat in Britain while the supply was only half of what it was pre-war. A lack of those two comodities and a more varied diet played a great part in sustaining the morale of the people. Mr Hendrie said that the bacon ration was 2 ozs per week, while there was great room for improvement in regard increased rations, that was not the whole story. Britain was in a tough spot economically, but while she had improved her position the dollar shortage negatived that improvement. The British farmers were not sitting back and expecting, and merely expecting more food to be sent to Britain, but were in the middle of a drive to expand home production, but even if their objectives were achieved there would still be a ready market for increased exports from New Zealand. There was not enough land in Britain to produce more than 50 per cent of the requirements of the population. The objectives of the farmers of both countries were complementary, Mr Hendrie continued. The Minister of Food had stated that it would be necessary to increase the meat supplies by 350,000 tons before rationing could be This was seven times the increase in the amount of meat New Zealand had undertaken to provide by 1955. Mr W. N. Perry, president of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand, said it was the duty of every farmer to do what he could to improve the position of his kinsfolk in Britain. Increased supplies of fertiliser had been promised for next season, and, provided the transport bottleneck could be overcome, those supplies should bring about increased production. The difficulty of obtaining labour and the shortage of rural houses were two obstacles to increased production, and it was to be hoped that they could be overcome. . Mr F. C. Johnstone, a member of

the New Zealand Meat Producers Board, congratulated Mr A. Rowlands on the organisation of the pork and bacon competition. Recently the price of meat being sold to the British market had been increased by 71 per cent., and it was to be hoped that the pig produced would get the full increase.

The production of pig meats could be expanded quickly, and they could make an important contribution to the extra 50,000 tons of meat promised to Britain, he continued. If the farmers were given the encouragement and tools to do the job, they would not only achieve their objective but double production in the next 20 or 30 years. Mr A. L. Lloyd, Auckland Provincial President of the Young Farmers Clubs, referred to the great benefit derived from the competition and he said that the Young Farmers were deeply appreciative of the interest taken in them by the older farmers. Mr Ryder thanked the judges for their work. He said that they had been on duty at five o’clock on the previous morning and “not many would like to be on a cold floor judging cold pigs” said Mr Ryder. In referring to the conscientious and thorough manner in which the judges did their work, the speaker likened them to a competent Rugby referee.

The presentation of prizes by Mr Hendrie concluded the luncheon function.