PRODUCTION PLAN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 255, 8 January 1941, Page 8

PRODUCTION PLAN

WORK FOR THE FARMER

MR THORN, M.P., EXPLAINS

When officially opening the Thames Valley A., P. and H. Association's Show, Mr J. Thorn, M.P., referred brieflj r to the plan for agricultural and pastoral production the Government feels should be aimed at in this present cris:is in our history, 14 Point Plan. The plan, stated Mr Thorn, covers 14 points, and briefly it may .be stated as follows: — (1) The growing of additional areas of supplementary-forage crops. (2) The saving of all surplus grass for hay and silage. (3) Increasing our cheese production by at least ll>,ooo to 20,000 tons. (4) Maintaining gutter production at its present level. (5) The production of an additional 10,000 tons of bacon. (6) Growing 20,000 to 30, 000 acres of feed barley in the North Island. (7) Raising the maize acreage from 7,600 to 11,000 acres. (8) Maintenance of output of mutton and lamb. (9) Increasing the output of wool. (10) Maintenance of beef production. ((1) Meeting England's requirements in egg production. (12) The growing of 300,000 acres of wheat for our own consumption. (13) The growing and processing of 14,000 acres of linen flax. (14) Increasing to the utmost the growing of grass and clover seeds, in addition to being self-supporting in other small seeds such as rape*,, turnips, mangolds, etc. I am advised that there is notbj. ing in this plan which upsets our agricultural economy. What is really desired is that we should intensify the best agricultural anril pastoral jjractices.

Pig Meat Demand. So far as this district is concerned there are widespread indications of the response of the farming community to Great Britain's request for the farm produce that makes tliis plan essential. Unless we experience a climatic upset the He* quired production of dairy produce deems assured, and the district is also playing an adequate part in meeting the demand for a great volume of pig meat, particularly baconers. The figures relating to t-is slaughtering of pigs for export show that the farmers all over New Zealand realise not only the desirability of helping Great Britain in tWis connection, but are taking the steps to very considerably increase baconer production. The figures up to the end of September, 1940 (1939 figures in parenrtheses) are as follows: Porkers 99,935 (350,895); baconers 330,955 (189581). If this trend continues New Zealand will soon be a great bacon producing country rather than a pork producing country. Hay and Ensilage Essential. Another important feature of the plan affecting this district iis the saving of additional supplies of hay and ensilage. This may be viewed as essentially a step towards improved live stock husbandry which has often been characterised by inadequate feeding during the critical periods of low production of our pastures. I have been asked to appeal to those concerned to- take full advantage of hay and ensilage, as It is impossible to anticipate what is in store for us next season.

Price of Fertilisers

T© assist in llie carrying out of this plain much had to be done j; '> provide the necessary supplies of fertiliser. To keep the price down to pre-war level the Government this year has made a subsidy of £080,000 available. On the production side the weekly output of our manufacturing plants has been driven to 12 000 torus as against an output of 8000 ions in the prenva? year. The only difficulty facing a further increase in production maybe the capacity of the manufacturing plant, but I understand that steps are being taken to increase this. As to fertilisers, the following figures will be interesting. Last year the total production of superphosphates and chemical fertilisers was 557,883 tons, or 83,000 tons morn than the previous year, and 203 000 ;iiorc lliar* in the year i-935-30.