INVADED DENMARK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 116, 15 April 1940, Page 6

INVADED DENMARK

EFFECT ON PRODUCTION. REACTION ON EXPORTS. (Specially written for the “Standard.”) Probable effects arising from the German invasion of Denmark are discussed in this article, in which the importance ol Die primary industries to Denmark are dealt with. The occupation of Denmark will not be without some immediate advantages to Germany and some setbacks to Britain. The advantages to Germany are likely to be nullified in time, and the reserves of tile British Empire are big enough to replace the loss of the Danish supplies of foodstuffs. The greatest sullerer from the invasion will, of course, be Denmark herself. Denmark is only two-thirds the size of Die Auckland province, having an area of 44,300 square kilometres. The country consists of Dio peninsula of Jutland and a number of islands,! most of which are exceedingly 6ina)l and only four of which have much importance. When lakes and rivers are taken into consideration a land area of about 42,300 square kilometres remains, and of this the total tilled and in permanent grass is 32,479 square kilometres, the balance being in woodlands, plantations, heaths, roads, etc. On the islands 93 per cent, of the land is cultivated and on the peninsula 85 per cent. The country is comparatively flat, the smallest area of high laud that there is being more in the nature of gentle slopes than hills. The islands are naturally much richer than the Jutland peninsula, much of which is not fertile. The productive state of the, country has been brought about soieiy by hard work. Much of the laud, which is in the nature of sand dune country, has been brought into production by sound farming methods. The country is very intensively cultivated, the cultivation being a different type from that in New Zealand. Only a comparatively small proportion of permanent pasture is grown. Oats, barley and some wheat are grown, and a large amount of root crops, particularly mangolds, turnips and swedes, and in the south sugar beet. The land is very highly cultivated because of the big population on a comparatively ’small area.. It is farmed very largely in small holdings. Of the total area of farm land, 24 per cent., at a recent period, was of farms smaller in area than roughly 20 acres, and SI per cent, of the total was occupied by farms smaller than about 120 acres.

The country is practically destitute of minerals. There is no coal or mineral industry of any dimensions, and the wealth of the country is thus dependent on agriculture. With Iceland as its only important overseas possession, the country lias had to be divided up closely among its own agricultural population. CHANGED FARMING POLICY. At one time grain was largely grown in the country, but, starting in the seventies of last century, rapid changes took place. r J'he growing oi grain lor export gradually disappeared and Denmark lx-came an important producer of animal products. The inhabitants later specialised in the production of butter, bacon and eggs, and in these re-pects Denmark became internationally famous. These agricultural products created a farming policy which lias as its object, getting the most possible out of the land and a greater production than by purely pastoral methods. Pastoral farming in New Zealand, disregarding the cost, is not the type which produces the greatest output. The crops in Denmark are grown for feeding to the animals. The dairy cattle population of the country is roughly the same as in New Zealand, about "1,800 000 milking cows. Adding to this the number of young stock and hulls, the total would be about 3 000.0C0. In Denmark cattle are not kept for beef, as in New Zealand The beef comes from tile dairy breeds, of which there are two main types, the Danish Bod milk cattle breed, and the Jutland black and white, which is very like the Dutch Friesian or the Friesian as seen in New Zealand. The Danish Bed is a special type evolved since 1870. The pig population is 4.000 000. a large total, and there is an exceedingly large number of poultry, the total at a recent census being 27.000 000. The other extreme is represented by sheep, of which there ri.ro practically none in the country. They are very soldoni seen in Denmark. Australia, New Zealand and .Denmark have for some years been the principal butter exporting countries. In recent years the Danish and New Zealand outputs have been almost equal. The greater part of the Danish output went to Britain, to which market practically all the New Zealand output was also sent. In 1935, the latest year for which figures were available, Denmark supplied to the British market- slightly more than 118 000 tons of butter, about a quarter of the total entering Britain. Tn addi tion to being an important buttei producer Denmark was also a very important exporter of bacon. In 1938 she sent about half of the bacon imported hv the British market. Denmark was one of Britain’s most important sources of eggs, sending about- onethird ol the total importation there.

This output of agricultural produce was made possible not only by the produce of Danish soil, but also by the feeding to stock of imported grains and materials. The annual importation of grain and oil cakes was recently reported to be more than 1 UOO.OOO tons, but lately the quantity of imported feeding stuffs has been reduced and it is stated that SO per cent, of the total is derived from locally grown foods, so that only 20 per cent, of the total lias to be imported. This 20 per cent, of imported foods, however, contains those of a protein nature, so that from the point of view of the Germans the loss of this 20 per cent, of imports because of the Allied b’oekade is much greater than it sounds. The loss cannot be made good out of the remaining SO per cent, of foods available, because these would not contain the necessary proteins. VALUE OF BACON TRADE. The position relating to bacon is important. This is a substantial source of income to Denmark. Practically all the bacon goes to Britain, as the Germans are not bacon caters. They eat pork. Therefore, the pigs in Denmark will be used by the Germans for fresh pork. Pigs cannot oe fed properly oil rough foods, and imported feeding stuffs therefore play a big part. Consequently. one effect of the blockade should be to reduce the output of pigs in Denmark. Diuiish bacon enjoys a. particularly good reputation in Britain. It is cured in Denmark and sent to Britain for smoking. Like the Germans, the Danes are not bacon eaters. It is very difficult to buy Danish bacon in Denmark. The immediate effect of the blockade is that the output of Danish produce should decrease, because 'of protein

foods not being available in tire country. Therefore produce must suffer, as the Germans cannot supply nroteinricli foods. The Germans, however, are now short of fat, and they will be able ..to get 100,000 tons of butter, the richest fat, from Denmark. This will bo very useful to them. In the course of time the Danish cattle stocks are hound to deciease, and it the Ooriiuuxs are driven back out of Denmark they will most likely take a considerable number of the best animals with them. These animals have been carefullyevolved and are highiv productive. Similarly, the pig output will decrease, but Germany will still be supplied with a valuable food, and is likolv to take a large number of the best ’animals out of the country. THE CALL TO NEW ZEALAND. The depriving of Britain of Danish bacon and butter will make much, more difficult Britain’s problem of supplying herself with these commodities. She will be dependent on Australia and New Zealand for butter. Consequently New Zealanders will see the necessity of making up the leeway caused bv the loss ot the Danish supplies as soon as possible. Not only patriotism enters into the question. because it i 6 a golden opportunity for New Zealand to help herself. New Zealand can plav an important part hv expanding the |;ig industry. This is .not a .difficult matter and can be done quickly Expansion of the butter trade is' somewhat more difficult, and for the moment would require concentration on the increasing of individual output. This industry, too, could be expanded to help to meet Britain’s' demands, and with the resources of the Empire the deficit of the Danish supply can be made good.