FARMERS’ PART

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21159, 8 July 1940, Page 9

FARMERS’ PART

WARTIME PRODUCTION “AS VITAL AS ARMS’’ (By Tclegrapn.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Monday A slogan of the British Government, “The produce of farms is as vital as arms,” was quoted by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, in an address last night. The Minister said he was proud of the farming community, and that New Zealand owed it a debt of gratitude for its part in the war effort. The Government was assisting farmers in every possible way, and would continue to do so, said Mr Lee Martin. Every effort was being made to maintain farm supplies, although some materials were not available. Steps were also being taken to maintain supplies of seed. The Minister, discussing plans for the coming season, said it was difficult to judge what shipping space there would be, but the Dominion must make the required supplies of food available to Britain. The Dominion’s programme was to produce an additional 15,000 tons of cheese, to keep butter output up to last year’s level, to increase pig meat production by 10,000 tons, to export as many eggs as possible, and to prevent waste. It would be necessary for farmers to provide reserve supplies of fodder. The long-term policy would be to increase breeding stocks, particularly dairy cattle and sows. Need To Save Bags In response to the British Government’s appeal for New Zealand to set aside 14,000 acres of linen flax, the acreage was already assured. The Minister urged farmers to collect dead wool, to save bags and to conserve petrol. The lime and fertiliser industries alone needed about 12,000,000 bags a year. The Government had decided to lend money where it was required for an increase in production. The machinery of the scheme had been discussed, and it ' was the Government’s intention to | make loans available as soon as pos- | sible.