GREATER PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 181, 3 July 1940, Page 4

GREATER PRIMARY PRODUCTION

"FRIDAY'S meeting 1 of farmers constitutes the first tangible effort made to rally and control the primary production of this country, in such manner that the utmost benefit will result from the Dominion's war effort to meet the gwwing de~mands of the Motherland. From this meeting responsible sub-committees will be set up to encourage aad assist in a. practicable way the farmers throughout the Bay. The movement will lay the first foundations of a plan to duce the maximum quantity of foodstuffs from given areas. The position is dictated by the desperate, plight of 4&,0OO,000 people in the Homeland, whose normal sources of supply have been completely cut off by the German conquests of Denmark, Holland,, Norway and France. The seizure of the Channel Islands closes another market and Great Britain can only rely on her sea : borne trade to carry those essential foodstuffs which are fundamental to the health and morale of her population. From the Argentine comes an unrestricted supply of beef and mutton; from Canada and the U.S.A. comes the greatest wheat crop on record, but it has been left to the Australasian countries to supply in full the ham, pork, cheese and butter which until two months ago poured regularly into the London Markets from Denmark and the Lowlands. In fulfilling the need the Bay of Plenty is playing a direct and vital part. As the most favoured maize growing district in the Dominion, it has already undertaken to increase its maize crop by fifty per cent. A careful survey and. canvass by the local Primary Production Council has resulted in figures being compiled which show that no less than 1,200 additional acres will need to be sown if thesie obligations are to be fulfilled. We must have no doubt in the matter, but it is stil!. essential that all farmers attend Friday's meeting and learn first hand the objectives of the New Zealand Dairy Board, which has undertaken the task of fostering the established primary industries' and producing the very utmost which fertility of land and farm labour conditions will permit. Here is ;the . farmer's duty to his country and Empire. The will to produce more is today just as vital as service with 1 the armed forces. In the nation's war effort all are included, and Friday's rally is dedicated not merely to a single type of farmer but to all who produce from the land; dairy farmers, maize growers, pig farmers, sheep farmers and graziersAll are needed today as never before, and we know they will not -fail the appeal from overseas.