BUMPER HARVEST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 177, 29 July 1942, Page 5

BUMPER HARVEST

British Farmers' Splendid

Response ROOM FOR EXPANSION Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, July 28. In the House of Commons debate on food supply, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Hudson, said everything man could do had been done to ensure the greatest possible harvest. He had asked farmers to increase the tillage area by 500,000 acres this year. If the weather were favourable they should increase the wheat acreage next year to 600,000. Mr. Hudson also pressed for an increase in the production of milk, which was already 10,000,000 gallons better than before the war, and 3,000,000 better than last year. This called for an increased effort by land workers, and if certain arrangements matured they would be expected to work this autumn by night as well as day.

Mr. Hudson spoke optimistically of the probable help to be given to farmers by scientists in the near future. Britain had already succeeded in growing an immensely increased bulk of food, but he was confident there was still room for expansion.

Mr. Walter Elliot, a former Minister of Agriculture, said he agreed the Ministry of Food and agricultural subsidies should continue. After the war steps would have to be taken to give the producer an adequate return and that meant some form of control over his produce. Mr. W. Mabane, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, replying in the debate, said the potato crop was expected to be extremely heavy, and it was hoped potatoes would be used extensively in place of wheat. He discussed how new methods, such as dehydration, had enabled variety and abundance of food to be supplied to the public In distributing food, the Ministry was prepared to act as the situation demanded. If military demands reduced the amount available the hands of all would have to eo to their belt buckles.