H—29

in 1945-46 was high, but again it was the dry summer weather which was the chief factor leading to increased slaughterings. The production of meat, butterfat, and wool during the immediate pre-war years, the war years, and for the past and present seasons is set out in the following table :

Live-stock Production

Cereal-production has declined during the past two seasons, and the present shortage is one of our most pressing problems. The 140,000 acres of wheat sown in 1946-47 is the lowest since the 1919-20 season and was chiefly caused by unfavourable weather at seeding-time. The areas under the chief cash crops for periods similar to that shown for live-stock products are set out in the following table :

Cash Crops: Areas in Crop

Programme for the 1947-48 Season As world cereal-supplies are expected to be adequate in 1948, the Dominion should aim at increasing meat and butterfat production to the maximum, for it is in live-stock farming that New Zealand possesses very definite natural advantages. Dairy and meat production should be assisted by increased fertilizer-supplies during the, coming season. New Zealand's allocation of rock phosphate for the manufacture of superphosphate has been raised from 300,000 tons to 420,000 tons for the 1947-48 rationing year, and arrangements have been made to import approximately 50,000 tons of basic slag and North African phosphate. The increased fertilizer-supplies will be most effective in improving production if their application for top-dressing is accompanied by closer attention to the provision of greater supplies of hay, silage, and fodder crops for winter feeding. More adequate winter feeding is the one single factor which would most rapidly increase butterfatproduction, and in meat-production more winter feed would greatly lessen the frequently high winter mortality rate, especially of breeding-ewes.

2

(In long tons) —• Butterfat: Year ended 31st July. Meat: Year ended 30th September. Wool: Year ended 30th June. Average of five seasons, 1934-39 Average of six seasons, 1939-45 1945-46 season 1946-47 season (forecast) 189,900 191,600 164,400 (Interim) 175,000 470,000* (Three seasons only) 528,000 540,800f 520,000 134,000 151,000 163,200 155,000 * Years ended 30th June. t Farm killings collected by Government Statistician for first time since 1942 show considerable decrease. Had killings been allowed at the same level as in 1944-45, the 1945-46 total would have been 547,100 tons.

— Areas threshed. Commercial Areas outside Boroughs. Wheat. Oats. Barley. Maize. Peas and Beans. Potatoes. Onions. Total. Average of five seasons, 211,200 63,400 22,400 6,900 19,100 21,900 800 348,700 1935-39 Average of six seasons, 243,900 61,000 31,200 8,200 35,100 22,200 1,100 402,700 1939-45 1945-46 season 161,000 57,300 48,600 7,000 34,800 23,200 1,400 333,300