The Dominion. TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1944. INCREASING PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 189, 9 May 1944, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1944. INCREASING PRODUCTION

At a Press conference in London the Prime Minister renewed the assurance that “if it lay within the power of New Zealand to increase her supplies of food to Britain it would be done.” That already has been endorsed by the producers in the Dominion, and Mr. Fraser apparently drew attention to the activities of the Dairy Council, directed to increase the output of butter and cheese. While all .classes of food are urgently needed the most imperative demand is for dairy produce, a branch of farming in which the Dominion has long held a pre-eminent position. A goal has been set for the coming production year and preparations are in train for both individual and collective effort. There are some factors which are encouraging. The autumn has been generally favourable to the growth of pastures, and the dairy stock is entering the winter months in good condition. Given an average winter the cows should come in well for the coming season, and a good start means a great deal to the industry. Many practical farmers have reached the conclusion that the only way to effect an early increase of output —and that is most essential—is to concentrate attention on existing herds. The herds of between 30 and 60 cows probably account for more than one-third of the total milked, and . men in close touch with the industry state that numerically they have been well maintained. For the most part they would be handled by what is termed domestic labour. It is contended that if the authorities were to ensure that these properties,, in most cases in closely settled districts and close to a factory, were given adequate supplies of fertilizer, and weather conditions were at all favourable, the butterfat production next season could be increased by 25 to 301 b. per cow and some men place the return at an even higher level. That is one way in which those directly interested in the industry see a prospect of providing an early increase in shipments to the Mother Country, thus complying with the dual requirements —more produce and without delay. It is, however, not the only suggestion that is being discussed. There are—or were—about 100,000 cows in 'herds of fewer than 20, and in the conditions that have developed it has not been deemed economical in some districts to arrange for the collection at the farm gate of these small quantities of milk or cream. \Here and there efforts have been made to get the producers to make delivery at certain points, but in many instances the collecting of small quantities,, especially where it involved a trip on some branch road, has had to be discontinued. The position should be reviewed and, if possible, arrangements made to enable these small producers to continue their operations. The probability is that many of them have disposed of their herds, but it is evident that if production is to be raised to the levels demanded every possible means of augmenting deliveries to the factories must be used. One of the chief difficulties, of course, is the scarcity of dairying stock due to the policy practically forced on the individual farmer during the last few «years. Herds were heavily culled to bring them to a size that could be handled by the labour available. It is now being urged that the process should stop, and that dairy cows capable of producing, say, 100-1501 b. of butterfat should be retained. That course was followed' by many farmers during the depression, and although in normal times it may not be a profitable method it undoubtedly would assist to increase production. These are some of the means that have suggested themselves to practical farmers, and those engaged in the dairy industry, in order that supplies of butter might be made available to the people overseas at the earliest possible moment. And they are careful to stress the fact that, if a full measure of success is to be achieved, these matters must have attention now. Unlike financial and other aspects of the subject, decisions in these respects cannot be made retrospective. The new season is a matter of only a few weeks away.