H.—29.

1943. NEW ZEALAND

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

Office of Minister of Agriculture, Wellington, New Zealand, 27th April, 1943. Sir, — I have the honour to forward herewith for Your Excellency's information the report of the Department of Agriculture for the financial year ended 31st March, 1943. This report provides a summary of the principal farming activities of the year, and briefly outlines the comprehensive and numerous functions of the Department in its work of maintaining and fostering the growth' of the rural industries to the full extent demanded by our wartime commitments. Tt details the organization of our drive for increased production and reveals the success achieved in this direction. Exploratory work carried out by the Government and the British Phosphate Commissioners has shown the practicability of exploiting the Clarendon phosphate deposits in Otago, and it is anticipated that considerable quantities of high- and low-grade rock will be delivered during the next twelve months. The steps taken by the British Phosphate Commissioners and the Government to exploit these deposits to the fullest will be of considerable value to the farmers of the Dominion and will have a bearing on the Dominion's wartime production economy, as the material so gained is urgently, needed to augment deliveries from overseas. To meet the demands of the armed forces for fresh vegetables, the Department's Services' Vegetable Production Scheme was inaugurated during the year, and projects have been established in many parts of the Dominion. Regular deliveries of fresh vegetables are now being made to the armed Services within the Dominion, and supplies are also being shipped to the United Nations forces in the South Pacific. The National Council of Primary Production, together with District Councils and producer organizations, continue to render valuable assistance on practical farm problems, particularly on matters relative to man-power and fertilizer rationing. The accompanying statement by the Director-General of Agriculture and the reports of the Directors of the Divisions cover all phases of the Department's work. While circumstances have necessitated a curtailment of many of the normal activities of the Department, every effort has been made to maintain essential services to the farming community consistent with the Dominion's wartime production plan. I have, &c., J. G. Barclay, Minister of Agriculture. His Excellency the Governor-General.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1942-43