GREATER PRODUCTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 67, 27 September 1939, Page 4

GREATER PRODUCTION

THE Government appeal for greater production in our primary industries, as the best means whereby New Zealand may help to win the war, comes at a time when farmers throughout the country are experiencing: a somewhat diffi cult period. Though the spring generally has dawned well and there is rich pasture growth, there remains the ever present labour shortage. This together with the poor returns from the past season and the automatic money shrinkage has made it particularly hard for the individual agriculturalist to extend his activities, much further than he has hitherto planned for the season. However, the farmers as a body can be depended upon to do the right thing during the period of national emergency, and where it is at all possible, more of the essential foodstuffs will be produced and produced willingly. In no section of the community is the spirit of loyality more pronounced than in the rural areas and there can be no question to doubt that where humanly possible the appeal will be met by the warmest co-operation. It is unfortunately a fact that this same spirit of loyalty, however may act as a boomerang in that the best type of recruit is generally drawn from the country. The drain upon the manpower in this respect must inevitably have some effect on the industry, and it remains a for the country to face in future, as to how best the interests of the Empire "may be met. If greater production is required, together with a fully equipped force of fighting men, comprising the flower of the Dominion's manhood, then it seems that either one of the objectives must suffer. In any case it will be a matter of making a special effort to meet the occasion. If the country can meet the double demand in a satisfactory manner, then it has definitely achieved something which spea.ks well for future production figures. If on the other hand there is a tendency to show a decline, it will become the first duty of the government to take immediate measure to protect the primary industry from being drained of its man-power.