FOOD PRODUCTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 85, 12 June 1946, Page 6

FOOD PRODUCTION

FARMERS’ UNION EXPRESSSIVE A remit at the Annual Provincial Conference of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union (Auckland Province) urged that the National policy of New Zealand should be the direction of National energy towards the development of land for, and the greater romotion of, the production of food for the starving peoples of the world, to set an example as to waste of food and labour, and to eliminate all obstacles to the best use of New Zealand’s natural resources.

Many delegates contributed towards the long debate on this important subject. “The physical difficulties can be overcome but I am not so sure about the psychological difficulties,” said the President, Captain H. M.' Rushworth. The president mentioned the supply of fertilisers, contending that phosphates could be obtained from Nauru if use were made of the British Service Personnel to open the way. In four or five years when the emergency had passed the farmers would have another problem to face, a surplus of food. If food was not wanted at the end of that time the farmers would want some form of guarantee to compensate them for their extra effort, or would they be prepared to trust the Government which was in power at that time? In reply to a question, Captain Rushworth said he had every reason to believe that the Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Labour were wholeheartedly with the farmers, but it was doubtful if the Government had any plan.

At the conclusion of the discussion it was decided that the question of Food Production and Distribution to relieve famine be treated as a matter of emergency and the president and other members were authorised to investigate the subject from all angles. Mr C. B. Michie, Kaitaia, said: “A cheese-paring policy on the part of the Government and the rest of the community is going to be fatal and we will have to get away from te present lip service.”