PRIMARY PRODUCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20049, 22 September 1939, Page 6

PRIMARY PRODUCE

DOMINION OUTPUT CALL FOR CO-OPERATION MEETING OF COUNCIL COMMON INTERESTS COMMITTEE TASKS (Pur Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The .organisation of the agricultural and primary industries to meet the needs of war conditions were substantially advanced yesterday when ,he first meeting was held of the Council of Primary Production. The chairman, the Minister of Agriculture, the lion. W. Lee Martin, presided. The Minister stated that the function of the council was to advise the Government through him on. the specific direction of farm production in order to maintain, increase, or to modify primary production. As the Minister in charge of Primary Production. it was necessary for him to maintain effective co-operation with the Minister of Supply and the Minister of Marketing to fulfil the requirements, for both Dominion consumption and export, and he would be guided by the council’s advice in making recommendations to both these Ministers.

It also would be necessary to maintain the closest touch with primary producers’ organisations throughout the Dominion to ensure that any emergencies which might arise would be met with the least possible disruption to the normal course of farming business. An executive organisaion would be established within the Department of Agriculture. The dir-ector-general of agriculture, Mr. A. 11. Cockayne, who had been appointed as controller of primary industiies, would be the deputy chairman of he council and it would be necessary for the council to advise on all policy measures coming within the jurisdiction of the controller.

Director of Production

The director of the fields division had been appointed as director of primary production and would, theielore, be an ex officio member of the council.

Describing avenues along which the organisation must proceed, the Minister said that the first was the organisation and direction of labour for normal and special seasonal requirements. The second was the maintenance of farm production o both crops and livestock and tne third avenue was in the organisation of the supply of farm materials in order that prices might be reasonably controlled and, in the event of a ‘-hortage of some essential commodity, a system of rationing might be operated.

The Minister said that he proposed to appoint executive officers in charge of these three lines of action and it would be necessary fully to consider the detailed organisation which should be set uo, so that a Dominion-wide coverage of local advisory committees might function at the earliest possible date and give the necessary elasticity to the whole scheme.

The employment division of the Department of Labour, working in conjunction with the local advisory committees, who would include _ representatives of the Farmers' Union and the New Zealand Workers’ Union, should be able to provide adequate and suitable farm labour for any emergency, said the Minister. After he policy of crop production bad been decided, he continued, capable direction of an organiser working through the district officers of the Department of Agriculture _ should ensure success in this direction.

Fullest Bsc Of Tractors

He hoped that, by the fullest use of tractors, it would be possible fully .o maintain the necessary area in arable crops. It also would be necessary to introduce a considerable diversification of crops to meet New Zealand’s requirements of certain products normally imported and to supply urgent demands which might arise in Britain.

This involved a detailed study of the potential demand for particular commodities and also the investigation of production costs and the establishment of equitable prices. As a general principle, they should aim at die least possible dislocation of normal farming practices. That was to cay areas carrying first-class pasture and efficiently utilised for intensive fattening or butterfat production should not suddenly be diverted, for example, to grain production.

Tn the control of possible rationing of farm supplies it would be important to prevent a monopoly, or a local scarcity of any commodity causing an unduly sharp rise in price.

Stabilisation of Costs

As it now appeared probable that, for the duration of the war, the major farm products would be marketed under an Imperial Government commandeer and that prices would be adjusted within rigid limits, consideration must be given immediately to the stabilisation of farm costs, and particularly to the prevention of unduly high prices for essential farm requirements which it was necessary to import.

Mr. Lee Martin emphasised that die all-important consideration was to secure the goodwill and fullest cooperation of the whole of the fanners of the Dominion in a supreme effort to increase primary production. The council discussed a number of oolicy and organisational matters and steps were taken to set up various sub-committees to deal with the sheep, dairy and pig industries and farm labour.