WORLD'S FOOD SHORTAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 65, 17 April 1945, Page 3

WORLD'S FOOD SHORTAGE

MORE PRODUCTION NEEDED

THE LACK OF TRANSPORT

Matters affecting the world's food shortage and the importance of maintaining' production at its highest possible level were considered at the monthly meeting of the Auckland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union on March 21. The discussion arose on the reading of a request from the Northern Wairoa sub-Provincial Executive that in view of the critical position of the Avorld's food supplies the Government be called upon to make adequate provision for the transport of manures to farms. Mr R. W. Dunning (Bay of Plenty) said that the question was a very serious one in his district. The President (Captain. H. M. Rushworth) said that the people of New Zealand appeared to be unable to realise what was involved in the cutting off of the food supplies of the large portion of the world devastated by the war and the urgent necessity of impressing upon the Government the importance, of doing everything jjossible to augment production in the Dominion.

The Provincial Secretary (Mr A. E. Robinson) reminded the Executive that the matter before the meeting was rather a question of trans--port of fertiliser and that shipping was being drawn upon to bring food to New Zealand, while both road and rail transport was strained to the utmost beer being a most important cargo by land and sea.

Mr Scott Davidson (Whangarei) said that instead of production being speeded up the most efficient

farm workers were being taken away and sent into camp. Elderly workers who had been doing such a large portion of the work for so long were becoming worn-out, but as soon as able-bodied men who were sent to replace them were becoming efficient they were taken away.

Mr J. H. Furniss (vice-president) referred to shirkers who continued to remain at home in sheltered lucrative positions Avhiie the men on active scrvice overseas had been £ sacrificing their health and strength * —and their lives —i'or the past four years, or more. Something should be done in the way of joint action to deal with the question. Too much time, had been lost alreadj'. The following resolution was carried on the motion of the President, seconded by Mr Furniss:— "That the attention of the Government be again drawn to the urgent necessity for increased supplies of food, bearing in mind the recent statement of Lord Woolton Avhen Food Controller in Britain that —'we are heading for a world shortage of foodstuffs.' The possibilities are so horrible that we again, urge that much more can or must be done in New Zealand to increase the production of food, particularly meat, and that the president make contact with such organisations as can be associated with this resolution with a view to focussing public attention on the position." Mr A. C. Harrison (Tauranga) i said that the efforts of farmers to increase production was largely be* ing frustrated by the lack of adequate transport. The President suggested that a conference of representatives of the. Farmers' Union and the freezing workers transport workers and waterside workers should be held in Wellington to consider the position. Mr Scott Davidson: Such a conference should be held immediately. Mr Furniss.: Auckland is the keypoint and before going to Wellington a conference should be held here. The matter was referred to the President to take such steps as he thought necessary.