SHORTAGE FORECAST

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 217, 9 June 1943, Page 8

SHORTAGE FORECAST

Vegetables In Spring “PLANT OR GO WITHOUT” tPlain statements that unless residents in Wellington city and its environs were prepared to grow their own, vegetables, they would probably have to go without 'in the spring, as commercial growers would find it difficult enough to keep pace with the growing requirements for the New Zealand and Allied forces, were made at a public meeting held in Wellington last inight to advance the “Big for Victory” campaign. Only thirty meu imd women' were present. The director of city parks and reserves, Mr. J. G. McKenzie, said that if people did not like to grow their own vegetables, they could go without. He. felt it was a matter of national urgency. The mayor, Mr. Hislop, who presided, said that Wellington had a large city population, including numerous flat. dwellers, to whom land was not available. ■Domestic gardens could only in part meet i The requirements of the community. Given definite information as to the acreage required, a scheme could be explored ll'or the utilization of town belt and corIporation areas as market gardens, provided the labour and expert supervision were available. The use to which these areas could be put would be explored by the city council. A National Urgency. The national urgency for "rowing more vegetables in the home gardens was emphasized by Mr. Roberts, M.P., who said the nucleus of an organization to stimulate action in this direction had been established in Auckland, and steps were being taken to promote similar movements in Wellington and other centres. It might be said, with a fair amount of justice,, he commented, that in the future phases of the war foodstuffs might become more important than munitions. Canada, the United States and Australia were meeting difficulty in finding adequate supplies. New Zealand had a big responsibility in providing for large allied forces. The vegetable committee, of ■which he was chairman, had made considerable progress in promoting production schemes, but a greater effort i had. to be made, using the skill and enthusiasm of organiations like horticultural societies. New Zealand had to provide for its civil population, for the U.S. forces in the Dominion, for the N.Z. and U.S. forces in the Pacific and for the Middle East area and exports to Great Britain. A realistic effort had to be made to supplement, the present supply of vegetables, said Mr. Roberts. Twenty vegetable farms, of a total of 1500 to 2000 acres, including areas at Otaki, Levin, Shannon, Opiki and Palmerston North, had been established by the Government, and it was proposed to extend the plantings by another 3000 acres. Their target had to be wholesale production with a minimum of wastage. Mr. Roberts outlined the heavy requirements of the American forces and said this country could not be satisfied with anything less than a total production effort. Vegetables fresh from the garden had a greater vitamin value. There would be no “redtape or straight-jacket scheme.” Speaking as chairman of the action committee, Mr. T. S. Waugh outlined practical proposals which were to be put into effect to encourage amateur gardeners with demonstrations, talks, Press statements, lectures and model flats in the city. Every available bit of ground was'wanted for vegetable production. Many people, strange to say, had not even an elementary knowledge of gardening. Programmes of instruction had been mapped out to cover the whole period from sowing to harvesting, and it was hoped to have an active organization in every suburb. Horticultural members could extend their keenness by “adopting” additional gardens and a suggestion was that U.S.A, members might undertake to look after the gardens of men on service overseas. Exhibitions would ■ be arranged by the horticultural division of the Department of Agriculture, and prizes would be awarded for garden competitions, according to soils and location. Commercial growers in the coining year would be hard put to it to meet the demands of the military* forces." It was hoped to make available to flat dwellers land which could be worked on the allotment scheme. Cr. W. Dunean said there was plenty of land available on the Town Belt, and a suggestion that grass plots in the city should be cut up had been rejected by ihe reserves committee. The mayor said that the city director of reserves was preparing a list of old and new areas where allotments could be set aside for gardeners. Mrs. Knox Gilmer said the public should realize just how serious the situation was becoming, and the likelihood of vegetable supplies being insufficient for the cities. She said the Women’s War Service Auxiliary land group had been doing good work, but needed more gardening recruits. The meeting adopted, on the motion of Mr. G. S. Nicoll, a resolution pledging whole-hearted support in bringing before the various organizations represented the need for immediate action and co-operation in the “Dig for , Victory” campaign. Similar meetings were also held at Lower Hutt and Onslow last night.