FAMINE CALL TO FARMERS

Chronicle (Levin), 25 May 1946, Page 7

FAMINE CALL TO FARMERS

-Press Association

PRODUCTION TARGETS , SET BY 3 GOVERNMENT

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, May 21. "Federated Farmers of New -Zealand, rcalising the world food situation,- -has offercd its cooperation with the Govcrnmoiit in a further .production drive," stated the Minister ■ of Agriculture, llon. B. lioberts, today. "After a full disciission of the existing praeticai difficulties sucli as liine, fcrtilis'ers, eenient, labour, fufal housing', "domestic aid, transport difficulties and prices, the Federation endorses the production targets as outiined. However,' in'Order as far as possible to investigate or solve these praeticai difficulties and explain the underlyiug causes to all intereated parties, a special committee is be.ing set up. This coiniiiittee wili comprise represcntatives of Federated Farmers of" Now Zealand, Dairy Board, Moat Producers ' Board, New Zealand Wprkers' Union and Government .npniinecs, and will be meeting at an early date. " The targets of the production progranime of 191G--17 were: — Wheat: 250,000 to 300, 000 acres. 1 ' The sowing of tliis acreage would go a long way towards making this country self-supporting in wheat," the Minister stated. "This .sliould be our objective. We eannot contribute to the world 's shortage by exports, but by growing a minimum of 250,000 acres we can niaterially reduce our wheat iniports, and tlius ma.ke availalile from Australia, additional quantities for countries so urgently requiring wheat. Lt has been estimated tliat 20* bushels yearly are needed to keep alive oue person dependent solely on- wheat for" dieting. It therefore folloivs that if we find it neeessary to iinport 0,000,000 oushels during the 1910-47 season, we will deprive Europe and Asia of sufficient to keep 300, 0Q0 people from starvation. " ' ' Oats for threshing: 50,000 acres. "This acreage would ensure sufficient for our owii requirements for man and stoclc and enable a substantial quantity to be exported," said the Minister. ' ' Oats can be grown on land not suited to wheat and can be spring or autumn sown so that, in stepping up .the area sown to oats, there is an opportuuity to play an important part in. fullilling the world 's grain shortage." Alalting barley: 40,000 acres., Steps had been taken to ensure that only the nornial quantities of nialting. burley were proeessed in this couutry during the coniing year so that any increass in acreage of this CTop would be avaiiable for exxiort. Like oats, uipltmg barley could be grown oh* land :not suitable for wheat production. Feed barley: 15,000 acres. ^A saviug iu the 'quantity of wlieat required for" stoclc food could be achievejd by the production of addltidiial" 1'eed barley which could bev grown over^ a wide range of soils. A large acreage could be sown in tlie Nortli lsj.and>. .Tliis feed barley was essential. tq piarutain our production of pig meqts/ and 15,000 acres would avoitl th.e 'inip6r.ta.tion of feediiig grain from. Australia. ' JNlaize: 12,00(1 Such acreage would be a substantial l'ilcrehSe on' ihe area plantod in 19-15-40 bul it'was hlghly dosirable to ensnre ..sufficieirt- .foeding grain for pigs and- pouti ry. llere, too, a substantial saving in wheaf eonsuinp-. tioh could be apflit'Vetl. *" • .i'otatoes": 25/>0y acre/f J^liad beeii suggestbd that ) the of additiopal potatoes by Thc* people cohld' result in a' sit.i'Yighn bread ' with ak cquivaTfcnJ. jshv'ing in- jirocious whdat supplies: The pldiiling of such ah.area iu potatoes was well witliiu tlie .^quutry's ability, for during the wa'r •ivlien tlie Anucd Services' required large '/upplies of potatoes, greater" ai;eas v^-ere plauted. • Onions: 1000 acres. This was appToximately ha-lf the acreage of our bes.t war .years.' No difficulty should -be experienced in liaving Lhis^lrea plantod. I'sas: If the expectedAqy.crseas' deuiand for pulse crop.s eventuitted, New Zealand inight well sUip up its acreage sown to peas. An indiCation had beeii given that up to 20,000, tojik.' of peas would gi\"e much needed. rclief to niajly sorely pressed eouiitries. Fafiuers fferp recommended to obtain a eontract from' a moreantile iirni beforo growing a large acreage of this crop. Butterfat: .190,000 tons. Evcry endeavour must b'e made to keep up our producliou of dairy products. Thc world shortage of fats had been frequently stressed. "We liave plaved an important part in maintaining siqiplies of this important foodstuff,"- said -Mr. lioberts. "Dospito sotbaclcs our dairving districts liave experienced, the butterfat production can and must be maintaiued. Additional supplemcntary fodder crops should be sown and the maxiinuiu amount of liay and silage sa\-ed during the eoming season. Althougli it is uulikely there will be the sauie cow numbers during the eoming .season, production can be hniintaiiied by fecding existing herds better. " Meat: 530,000 tons. Every cffort must be made to maihtain our exports of lamb, mutton, beef and pig nicats to ensure Great Britain's meagre meat ration xvoukl continue. Ste]is were being tak.en to export parts o.f carcases which had not .liitherto been sent overseas, while the export of additional meats such as rabbit 'meat, ete., was being arranged. AVool: 100,000 tons. Clothing was.as esseutial as food in the (levastated countries. Our floeks niiglit be down in uuinbers but it was liojied this figure niiglit be obtained at the next skearing. l\lueh additional jpoundage could be obtained from dead' wool now that additional farm labour was avaiiable.