LANDOWNERS AND THE WAR.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13549, 17 August 1914, Page 2

LANDOWNERS AND THE WAR.

AN APPEAL FOR PLANTING

Mr. G. A. Fair brother writes in the "Dominion: —"Not for months to come can. any grain be sown in Europe or Canada. Though the present harvest will be sure to ba garnered, it is a certainty that the exigencies of war will cause the destruction and diversion of sufficient Russian wheat and rye corn to leave millions of 'people half fed or to starve. In times of peace and plenty millions of people in Western Asia and Europe (including the British Isles) have barely enough food to supply them from day to day. One day's break in employment means nothing to eat. Even though every effort be put forth and the best possible done; even though no mistakes be made, the food supply must be greatly restricted, and in consequence millions of women and children are going to die of starvation. The men engaged in the war may be fed. New Zealand is practically the only place in the British Empire where corn can be forthwith planted. We have only a few days left in which to prepare ground, and sow wheat, rye, and milling oats, with the special object of providing ,for European wants. For every acre of wheat we can sow, the average yield wilLsave at least ten to fifteen of those who wilL certainly die of starvation if we neglect. We have many thousands of teams that could he got to work at once, if landowners realised the position. Every available acre should at dnce —not in a day or two—be tackled earnestly, and mapped out for grain. Lands being prepared and set apart for rape, etc., should be "sneaked" for this purpose. Fields that were meant for laying down in grass can be used for corn. Further, fields can be pre-, pared for rape, etc.. when the wheat sowing is finished. Grain growing cannot be delayed a day—the other crops can wait a few weeks. Ten thousand teams can plough, work, and sow ninety thousand acres in 96 hours, and this will yield sufficient grain fco s^ve a million lives. Remember, this is a business proposition that will pay handsomely. I implore every farmer to think that for every acre he puts in he will save over ten human lives. Even if he wants the land for sheep, he may ! well remember the question: 'How much better then is a man than a sheep?' Corn is certain to produce a good profit;'sheep are at best uncertain. Though the harvest be a damp one, fear not; it will hardly lessen the profit."