50,000 ADDITIONAL ACRES

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 241, 13 October 1942, Page 5

50,000 ADDITIONAL ACRES

SUPPLIES FOR ALLIED FORCES. INDICATION FOR NEXT SEASON.

P.A.

CHRISTCHURCH. Oct. 13. ■

An announcement that he was asking the wheat-growers of the Dominion to co-operate with the Wheat Committee and the Primary Production Councils to inerease 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 for Supply, Mr Sullivan. Growers and prospective growTers would be urged to indieate by means of a contract form 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 producers would be o'oliged to labour, but having regard to their loyalty and to their achievements in the past, he was confident that with the cooperation of other interests concerned the required increase in the volume of production could be obtained, and the needs of the Dominion fully met. "Most of our farmers are co-oper-ating 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 responsibiiity," Mr Sullivan said. "To meet such cases it is necessary to ensure that all farmers bear their fair share of responsibiiity. "I will personally do my best to overcome the labour problern that may arise in connection with the planting of the crop," concluded Mr Sullivan, "and it can be definitely accepted that the Government wiil ensure that the crop is harvested."