FARMERS’ DUTY TO INCREASE OUTPUT OF THEIR FARMS

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 October 1947, Page 4

FARMERS’ DUTY TO INCREASE OUTPUT OF THEIR FARMS

That it was the duty of the Wanganui Provincial Farm Production Committee to transform a general directive to the farmers to produce more into a practical scheme which would meet local conditions was stressed by Mr. W. J. B. Tripe when speaking to a meeting of farmers at Brunswick.

He hoped that branch committees would consider how best production could be increased in their own particular localities. He suggested that they should endeavour in a systematic manner til show: (1) What further commodities could be produced in their area (2) The means at their disposal and how they should employ them to achieve their objective. (3) Any shortage of equipment, material or labour which would hinder the achievement of their objective. (4) Any other relevant factors or consequences. Mr. Tripe said that it appeared to him that the most urgent commodities were beef, mutton, pelts, pig meat, and dairy produce. So far as mutton was concerned no sharp increase was possible from breeding but it would help materially if farmers increased weight by better feeding. Too many pelts from home-killed mutton were thrown over the bank. Some 60,000 pelts, each worth a dolhir, could be saved. Mr. Trine said that the national scheme aimed at restoring the number of breeding sows at 80,000 and to produce 44,000 tons of pig meat. He appealed to farmers to grow suitable crops to supplement the shortage of pig feed in the Dominion.

Mr. Tripe said that the national target for dairy produce was 190,000 tons of butterfat. It was confidently expected that this target would be readied.