Germany Warns Indolent Farmers of Loss of Land

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 101, 15 May 1937, Page 16

Germany Warns Indolent Farmers of Loss of Land

BERLIN, March 24— Col. Gen Haimfmn Goring, who is charged by Reichsfuhrer Hitler with. the achievement of the four-year plan of self-suffi-ciency, has ordered the carrying out of far-xeaching new measures caleulated to ensure the full realization of Herr Hitler 's intentions. For his purpose rGeneral Goring needs to import considerable quantities of raw mafycrial that cannot possibly bo obtained or produced in Germany and for these imports payment has to be made in foreign eurrency. All conceivable means of obtaining "devisen" (foreign exchange) are being adopted, and one of these is the gradual prohibit^on of the import of. foodstuffs that Germany herself under pressure could supply. Severe import restrictions by the National Socialist rulers have brought matters so far that only about 17 per cent. of foodstuffs consumed in ■ Germany is being imported. The measure now. coming into force are intended to save for other national purposes as much as possible of the foreign eurrency that has now to be paid for this 17 ~per cent of imported foodstuffs. To attain this end General Goring has ordered "&n investigation- of German agricultural production. Having a'seertained that the fertilization of farms is in many cases inadequate or ineffectivo he not only ordered improvement but demands drastic price reduction on artificial f ertilizers. • In order to'reduce the quantity of fodder that has to be imported General Goring requires that the cultivation of siigar beets and potatoea shall be extended and orders that the price paid by factories for so-called industrial potatoes be raised. With the same object more rye is to be produced, and to encourage farmers the official price paid to them is also to be, raised.The scheine includes furthermore tho elimination of incompctent or lazy farmers, and when it is necessary the state will place the cultivation of their land in the hands of abler men. Working of the farms is to be watched more closely than ever by the authorities, and advice will be given to all farmers by technical experts concerning the construction and maintenance of cattle stalls, the choice of crops and the use of agricultural machinery. Agriculture is thus to he regixrented