PRODUCE MORE

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21083, 9 April 1940, Page 7

PRODUCE MORE

THREE MAIN DIRECTIONS EXISTING FARMS FAVOURED HOUSING A BIG DRAWBACK (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Monday Three main directions of increased primary production were mentioned by Mr R. B. Tennent, director of primary production, in addressing a meeting of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production today—greater pig-killings, more but-ter-fat production and heavier wool clips. “ The war is not running to schedule,” said Mr Tennent, “ and consequently our original programme of development has been affected in some measure. There has not been the big drain on foodstuffs in Britain that was expected, which has made our job a little easier. Nevertheless, we have had to concentrate on increasing our production.”

Mr Tennent said New Zealand could best achieve the desired results by concentrating her effort on farmers already farming. They were trained in the essentials of the job, he said, and had the capacity for advancing production. Farmers should be encouraged to improve their methods, as there was always room for improvement to attain maximum production. New Country Presents Problems “ We have considered breaking in large areas of unproductive land by the most rapid means,” continued Mr Tennent. “ However, we feel that, to maintain production, existing farmers must help. New country may be extremely costly to farm, and when it is ultimately brought in it may not have the desired result of raising production very materially.” Referring to a labour survey conducted by the council last year, Mr Tennent said the shortage generally proclaimed throughout the country did not exist to the extent stated. Farming did not suffer from any labour shortage last season, but the future position was likely to be different. Over 3000 men from farms had enlisted, and, while there would be many replacements from youths leaving school, some of the essential workers would be difficult to replace. “ A number of these men are to be found employed by the Public Works Department, and the department and the Government are anxious that they should be given every inducement to return to the land,” continued Mr Tennent. Housing Given Attention “ One of the biggest drawbacks is the housing conditions on farms. There is a scheme for financing rural housing, but it does not go far enough. To be effective it would be necessary to provide a maximum number of houses on farms at the cheapest rates in the shortest time. The council has put recommendations before the Government, which Ls at present further developing the scheme, hoping to attract men back to the farm.” Mr Tennent said he did not bellieve labour to be an insurmountable difficulty. There was a tendency to develop the family unit on the farm, and that he held to be the most efficient. He agreed that, given good conditions and a good house, the farm labourer was not deeply concerned about working over five days a week, and eight hours a day. Urging greater pig production, Mr Tennent said killings had declined considerably in the past three years, in spite of barley prices being the cheapest in the country’s history. He recommended farmers to save more heifer calves to build up dairy production, and he added that no heed should be taken of loose talk regarding the danger of over-production in wool. “ These are common-sense lines for advancing production,” he said.