PROMPT ACT CON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 178, 26 June 1940, Page 5

PROMPT ACT CON

MAIZE COMMITTEE GETS TO WORK SURVEY OF DISTRICT PRODUCTION Immediately after its formation on Monday, the Maize Committee, set up to implement the Government Is request for increased maize production in the Bay of Plenty, decided on. a swift and comprehensive survey of the Whakatane and Opotiki Counties. The initial stages of the organisation for this pur pose were completed early on Monday afternoon; telephones were used to some effect on Mori day night and the actual work commenced yesterday morning. It is expected that the survey will be completed by to-night. The statistics have to reach Wellington by Friday night. Many matters affecting both the coverage of the district by the stock firms and production difficulties and costs were discussed by the Committee. One important item raised was the cost per acre of planting maize. Mr Sisam said the cost naturally | depended on the locality and the area to be. sown but the over-all cost should not average out at more than £2 per acre, the farmer to do his own planting. The figure quoted would cover the cost of preparation of the ground. In reply to a question, Mr Taylor said he thought it possible to get some Public Works Department plant for growing operations. Questionnaire Form. The Whakatane and Opotiki Coun ties were zoned and the divisions allocated to the various auctioneering firms, the members of which are conducting the survey. The Questionnaire, which is headed, Government Appeal For Increased Maize Production, reads as follows:— "For many years past, it has been necessary to import large quantities of maize. With the advent of war, it is necessary to eliminate these importations and it has become essential to provide locally our total requirements which would mean an additional 2,500 acres to the acreage which is grown at present. The Bay of Plenty allocation would be approximately half of this •extra amount. "With this object is view and to assist the Government to the full in its war cfTort„ Ave solicit your whole hearted support. I, undertake to grow for the 1940-41 I season approximately acres of maize. My seed requirements which I will/will not have to purchase bushels. Crib requirements: x Netting Roofing Area grown last year Note: The form is reproduced so that farmers who may not have been included in the canvass, through oversight, or those who have not previously grown maize, can fill in the details and return it to the Hon. Sec. Eastern Bay of Plenty District Council of Primary Production, Whakatane. By now many farmers will have received and completed this return. Those who have not and are approached, are urged to extend their assistance and co-operation, for only through.! this can the objective be attained; only through this can the areas affected play their parts in New Zealand's efforts) to assist the Mother Country, Judgment in War Time« "Though jobs are plentiful, I would like to suggest that vocational guidance work is even more im-> portant in time of war than in tlime of peace," said Dr. D. E. Hansen, at the annual meeting of the boys' employment committee at Christchurch. "In war time the sense of judgment and balance of parents and children, and all of us, is just a little different." He had heard one business man say that he would like to close all secondary schools and send the boys out to fill the jobs of men who were going away. That* said Dr. Hansen, wa,s an example of liorvv even sensible people might think at a time like the present.