FOOD FOR BRITAIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 251, 20 September 1940, Page 6

FOOD FOR BRITAIN

MANAWATU’S SHARE.

CHEESE FACTORIES HELP

After carrying on operations under serious difficulties in recent years because of falling supplies, Manawatu cheese factories are now making a sterling contribution to the call for food for Britain, and vats which were but a short time ago the despair of the factory managers are brimming each day. Butter production has suffered to a degree under the necessity by which supply was switched over to cheese factories, but the kindest season for years has brought new peak levels for individual farmers’ returns at butter factories.

The extent of the improved conditions this year can be judged from the experience of one cheese factory, where statistics taken out on the figures put up this year, by last year’s suppliers, 1 show an increase of 41.3 per cent.

In the case of one small cheese factory in the Manawatu three vats were operated last year, but the capacity has now been increased to six vats, this involving an outlay of approximately £6OO. Whereas 70 crates of cheese were turned out in the first ten days of September last year, the output for the corresponding period this month has been no less than 191 crates, an increase of 173 per cent. Another Manawatu cheese factory is now, with extra suppliers and the greatly improved season, turning out no less than 58 per cent, more cheese than it was at this time last year. The vats are now full and herds are still on the up-grade toward the full flush of the seasonal output. In the case of still another factory, the increase is about 40 per cent., this unit having gained only a few suppliers under the transfer from butter. It was in the happy position of running its vats practically full last year, however.

Difficulties in securing cans and factory equipment are still apparent. Another cheese factory on the outskirts of the Manawatu district has a further large vat on order and it is to arrive in the near future. Here, also, trouble has been encountered in securing sufficient milk cans and the peak of production has yet to be reached. For a number of years it was not uncommon in the Manawatu lor a counting of suppliers to cheese factories to be carried out at the close of each dairying season in order to secure an estimate of next year’s supply. On the result of that count depended whether the indent order for the following season’s materials would be placed, and there were instances even where the new season was approaching and the directorates did not know for certain whether the cheese factories would open or not. It will thus be seen that a remarkable transformation in the case of some cheese factories has been brought about.

FARM PRODUCTION

INCREASE IN MANAWATU

SUBSTANTIAL FIGURES

According to the figures supplied by district committees to the Manawatu Council of Primary Production, a very substantial increase in farm production will take place in the Manawatu area. For this to be carried out completely will involve overcoming several difficulties, with which the council is already dealing, but under favourable conditions the net result of the Manawatu contribution to increasing the food supply should be an impressive one.

Although there are still a large number of return:; irom different districts to be handed in, the following increases in production have been promised in the Manawatu area, which extends from Paekakariki to Rangi--wahia and includes the Fcilding, Iviwitea and Pohangina districts: Sheep, 14,920; pigs, 3707; run cattle, 1162; dairy cattle, 1878; poultry, 2258; root crops, 1528 acres; grain crops, 13161acres; lucerne, 18 acres; grass seed, 532 acres; clover seed, 12 acres. These figures were referred to Mr L. I. Plimmer. secretary of the Manawatu District Council of Primary Production, who said that, favoured by a good season, there was no doubt that there would be a very substantial increase in primary production this year. Farmers generally were responding magnificently to the call for further food supplies for the Motherland. Difficulties were involved in obtaining this increased production, and farmers, farmers’ organisations, the council, the merchants and the Government were doing their best to overcome these. One of the chief problems concerned winter feeding, and to overcome this a certain amount of winter cropping was being done. New accommodation for pigs was being provided throughout the district, and provision for additional finance 'had been made. There were still a number of problems to be solved, such as marketing. “I am sure,” said Mr Plimmer, “that if these problems are faced with the same spirit as the drive to encourage production, this district will put up a very creditable performance and will greatly assist in the ultimate victory over our enemies.”