AREA UNDER WHEAT

Evening Star, Issue 24324, 13 October 1942, Page 2

AREA UNDER WHEAT

INCREASE OF 50,000 ACRES ESSENTIAL (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 13. An announcement that he was asking the wheatgrowers of the Dominion to co-operate with the Wheat Committee and the primary production councils to increase the area under wheat from 300,000 acres in 1942-43 to 350,000 acres for the 1943-44 harvest, was made by the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan). Growers and prospective growers would bo urged to indicate the areas they were prepared to sow next season. Mr Sullivan said that to be able to provide sufficient of certain lines of primary produce to meet the requirements of the Allied forces in the Pacific area, and to satisfy the needs of the civilian population, a marked increase in the volume of these lines of production was absolutely imperative. While fully recognising the difficulties under which tho producers will be obliged to labour, but having regard to their loyalty and to their achievements in the past, he was 1 confident that, with the co-operation of the other interests concerned, the required increase in volume of production could be obtained, and the needs of. the Dominion fully met. “ Most of our farmers are co-operat-ing whole-heartedly, and are making a sincere effort to do their part-, but unfortunately there are still some who have not yet recognised their national Responsibility,” Mr Sullivan said. “To meet such- cases it is necessary to ensure that all farmers bear their fair share of responsibility. “ I will personally do my utmost to overcome the labour problem that may arise in connection with tho planting of the < crop,” concluded Mr Sullivan, “ and it can be definitely accepted that the Government will ensure that the crop is harvested.”