DROUGHTS HAVE SERIOUS RESULTS

Chronicle (Levin), 9 May 1946, Page 7

DROUGHTS HAVE SERIOUS RESULTS

BUTTER PRODUCTION DOWN BY MORE THAN HALF In consequence of the widespread drought thmugliout the nortliern areas of the Nor'th Islaud during the summer, butter production for the whol'e of New Zealand had fallen by 52, per cent., stated Mr. A. Linton, acting-chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, wheh addressing the ward copference at Palmerston North on Tuesday inorning. The drought liad been particularly disastrous in Northland where production was down by 85 per cent., and factories were working only .three days a week. The full eff'ects of the drought had not y&t been seen, he said. Without doubt there would be a liigh mortality rate among cattle during the coming winter. In soine cases stoek were in a bad condition as a result of the prolpnged shortage of summer feed, while in others farmers had maintained the condition of their cattle by sacrificing their supplies of winter feed. The Dairy Board, said Mr. Linton, had talcen up with the (lovermnent the question of the drought. A committee liad been set up, comprising representatives of the areas most seriously affected, and discussions with the Government would talce place iu Wellington on May 23. "2?he board has been particularly concerned on behalf of the many .young retumed meii recently settled on farms," said Mr. Linton. "We feel that there should be 110 increases in their capital liabilities this year as a result of the disaster, and representations are being made to the Goverpment. " Fertiliser Position Discussing the question of fertilisers, -Mr. Linton sa'kl the board was deeply concerned over the delay occurring in delivering phosphates to farmers. I11 some cases deliveries were running montlis late. "Tlie whole- transport system in New Zealand has beeii on -the verge of a breakdown for several years," he said. "This has been brought about by coal shortages and the deterioration of railway roiiing stoclc during the war years. ' '

Mr. Linton referred to tlie fact that the board was giving consideration to the importation of slag. Eoclc pliosphate was subsidised at the rate of £4 l(5s ld per tou, and if the same apjilied to slag, the latter would cust farmers between £9 and £11 per ton. The spcaker brielly referred to various difhculties under which the farming industry was working, including the shortage of houying, and- the attracting to cities of suitable labour. " llostilities ceascd 12" uionths ago and siuce tlien no serious^fihdeavour li'as Jieen made to alleviate pur troubies," he declared.. Producers ' G'onf erence "As I expect you are hll aware, our chairman, Mr. llale, is o'n: his way tb Bngland at present as one 'of Ihe" delegateu vvho will attend th'b' international conference of i'uod producers to be held in Loudon in May," sa'M'sMr. Linton. "This conference is the 6utcoiue of the \-isits p'aid to the 'Dihnln'ions 'by • the delegation of British 'frfnners, headhd by -Mr. Turner, now'the preaident of Ihe National F'ainiers' Unioii of llngland. You will re'member tlnt they visited New Zealand '"about oighteeu monlhs ago and met representatives of our farming industries: The policy which Mr. Turner and thc National Palmers' Union of Britain is sujiporting is tliat laid down by the Food and Agriculture Qrganisatiou of .tlie United Natious, and tluit policy, in its broadest sen.se, is that while there are people in the world 011 the verge of starvation ' — and there always have been millions of them throughout thc world in the past — producers should.- not have to worry about luarlcets, but should be assured of prices that will allow them to produce. That is a wonderful ideal and it is certain that unless in the years ahead some means can be found for bringing it to fruition ,then we are going to have 110 real peace. But it will not be easy to brihg about, and thc conference which Mr. Ilale is attending as oue of the farming representatives of New Zealand has a difficult task ahead of it. It was originally intended by the National Farmers ' Union that the conference should be confined to representatives of the British Dominions and they had not heard exactly why it had. been extended to include apparently . representatives of the United IStates and of European nations. Doubt- | less there were good reasons for that I course being taken for he imagined it ' would add greatly to the difficulties of reaching agreem'ent. The delegation which had left New Zealand did not represent the statutory boards — though certain of its members happened also to be members of these bodies — but represented the Farmers' Federation. It had_ been specilically stated by the president of that orgauisation, Mr. Oooksley, that the farmers of New Zealand woukl not be committed by the delegation who would report back liere prior to accepting .responsibility for agreeing to any proposed international policy. • "1 think tliat is a vA*ise deeision," said Mr. Linton. "Uonditions throughout the world are clianging very rapidlv. During the war aerial development was liastened by many years, and it is'now possible for representatives from anv of the producing countries to reacli a central point for a conference within a few days of leaving their own country. Under these conditions closer cooperation is not only desirable — it is also inevitable. We have thought to build any international orgauisation of food producers slowly'aud with sound foundations, and it is therefore only proper that our delegates should report back. so that farmers in Now Zealand can endorse or oppose the proposals. "