WILL BE DRIED OFF

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32423, 26 April 1944, Page 5

WILL BE DRIED OFF

j NO WINTER MILKING DANGER EMPHASISED GUMBOOTS WANTED ON PLAINS The danger of loss of production through farmers not milking through the winter months because of the lack of gumboots was emphasised at a meeting of farmers held in Paeroa on Monday morning. The chairman, Mr W. H. Cheale, stated that he had recently received a telephone call from a Waitakaruru woman who had stated that if she and her family did not receive gumboots in the very near future they would not milk this winter. IShe‘had stated that they milked 140' cows and usually milked approximately 70 during the winter. If no gumboots were available they would dry those 70 cows off this winter. She had asked him for assistance.

No doubt, said Mr Cheale, the position was exactly the same throughout the Hauraki Plains. The loss in production would be very serious this winter if gumboots were not made available in the next week or so. Mr Cheale pointed out that the drainage boards were having difficulty in getting men to clean the drains because of the lack of gumboots. The Hauraki Plains depended on a good drainage system to maintain production and if this slipped back the fall in production would be very serious indeed.

He urged that the Hauraki Plains should be given No. 1 priority in the supply of gumboots. It was resolved, that the secretary write to the Minister of Supply, the member for the district, Mr A. S. Sutherland and the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company asking them to take steps to speed up the delivery of gumboots to this area where the whole system of farming depends on drains being cleared. Many Hauraki Plains farmers milk some cows through the winter and these will be dried off if gum boots are not made available. The above resolution was moved by Mr Cheale seconded by Mr H. Baker and carried.