Levin Farmers Worried Over Shortage

Chronicle (Levin), 19 April 1948, Page 4

Levin Farmers Worried Over Shortage

The 5serious shortage of feed for stock consequent on the drought conditions which have prevailed in the Horowhenua district for some time was the subject of comment by several members of the Levin branch of Federated Farmers at the annual meeting on Friday night. The matter was raised by the reelected president, Mr. C. E. C. Webb, who said that the drought had affected the Horowhenua district as seriously as in dther areas. Many. members of the branch were very worried, and the position for some was desperate. The're had been no norma! fall of rain for six months. In some cases, all the winter food reserves were gone and farmers were faced with having to j get enough food for the next four months. j A sore point with another memj ber was the fact that hs was having difficulty with getting his cull cattle to the works. If this stock could be got away, it would help to J conserve feed, he said. It was stated that most of the slaughter houses would not be taking any more cull stock for some time. There will be a big demand for hay all over the North Island and ! it ' was sdggested • that ' * Fedbrated j Farmers should try to obtain a ceiling price for this commodity. jHowever, it was .contended that j even if a ceiling price was placed on hay, it would not help to bring i any into the district. One avenue j which mi'ght be explored was- the Ipossibility of bringing feed from j the South Island. This matter | will be r.eferred to the Manawatu I provincial executive,