AUSTRALIA’S EFFORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 94, 21 April 1944, Page 3

AUSTRALIA’S EFFORT

WORK ON FOOD FRONT COMMISSIONER’S REVIEW (P A.) Wellington, April 19. “On the food front Australia is surely playing a very full part in this world struggle,” said the High Com. misisoner for Australia in New Zealand, Mr. T. G. D’Alton, addressing the Lower Hutt Rotary Club. ‘‘There seems to be an impression that Australia’s food production has dropped. With the exception of butter, this is incorrect, and in almost every other case a huge increase in production has taken place, despite a reduction of approximately 25 per cent, of manpower in rural districts.” Referring to meat. Mr. D’Alton said that just before the rationing introduced last December, an official report disclosed that Australia had a million more beef cattle than in 1939, fifteen million more sheep, and the pig population had increased by more than half a million. That meant nine per cent, more beef cattle, 12 per cent, more sheep, and 35 per cent, more pigs. There were now ten million beef cattle, anoroximately 125,000,000 sheep, and 1,560.0000 pigs—all records, despite the great difficulties of the war. Australia’s meat production for 1943 had reached the extraordinary figure of 1,058.000 tons, and it was anticipated that this figure would be exceeded this year and that Australia, whllg. still meeting increasing commitments in all parts of the Pacific and other war theatres, would increase her meat exports to England by another 100,000 tons, while the meat-canning programme for the year was estimated at approximately 9000 ’ ons, which was five times greater than before the war. Australia had more than doubled here vegetable production. It was anticipated that 280,000 acres of potatoes would be grown this year, huge quantities beins dehydrated in 20 big factories for the armed forces. In the small State of Tasmania 100,000 acres of potatoes would be grown, three times more than the total acreage of New Zealand. Huge quantities of carrots, cabbages, beetroot and other vegetables were being dehydrated. The dehydration of mutton was also being carried out, enabling the troops to obtain good, wholesome vegetables and meat in the most forward battle positions. “The vegetable, fruit and meatcanning programme of Australia has reached massive proportions.” he said. “This year it will be necessary to manufacture 1,400,000,000 cans to meet our canning programme. If they were placed end to end the canned foods which Australia must produce this year would girdle the earth twice.”

Mr. D’Alton said that egg production had been stepped up considerably, and. this -'•’ear. it was expected the total production would reach 100,000.000 dozen eggs. Mr. D’Alton said Australia supplies the majority of New Zealand’s requirements in regard to rubber tyres, besides meeting an extraordinarily heavy call for her own, and a big section of the Allied troops’ requirements in the various forces.

Australia was producing thousands of special types of self-sealing waterproof fuel tanks for all the Allied aircraft operating in the Pacific. The most up-to-date rubber equipment in the world was being manufactured in Australia to-day. After outlining increases in metal production, and the great strides being made in the scientific field, Mr. D’Alton said that it had been proved that the use of wool grease was the best preventative of mould whicn had a most damaging effect on all types of equipment in tropical areas. The outstanding scientific work, whilst helping greatly in the war effort, was also bringing into being many factors that would eliminate the very difficult living conditions of the islands, which probably would not| otherwise have advanced that dis-, tance within another 100 years. “I have not attempted to deal fully, with the actual warfare material and I equipment which is being manufactured. but many of the most modern' aircraft are being produced daily from Australian factories,” he said. “Wei also are heavy suppliers of prism gun sights and optical lenses. Diesel engines, and all the most modern of mechanical propulsion engines, are being manufactured, many thousands of which are required for our amphibious forces in island warfare. Many thousands of wooden craft are being made in almost every State.” (See further message on Page 5.)