ELIMINATION OF WASTE

Southland Times, Issue 24231, 14 September 1940, Page 13

ELIMINATION OF WASTE

URGENT APPEAL TO FARMERS •

SALVAGE OF DISUSED MATERIALS

An appeal to farmers to salvage many of the articles at present wasted on farms throughout the country, and to practise a rigid economy with all necessary supplies, is given in the article below, which was written by the assistant secretary of the Ministry of Supply, of which the Hon. D. G. Sullivan is Minister in charge: Tire marshalling of our economic resources is a vital necessity if we are to make a full contribution to the Empire’s cause. We in New Zealand need no reminding of the stern nature of the task confronting us as a people. We have a duty to perform here in our own country, a duty that will call for sustained effort. Our task on the home front is to maintain and increase pro~ duction, to supply the Motherland with essential foodstuffs.

MORE PRODUCTION: LESS WASTE

Increase production! Two words with a wealth of significance. Eliminate waste! Two more words redolent with importance in our national life. The task of the farmer is to co-relate these two. Naturally he will ask: “But how am I to do so? In what way can I eliminate waste to increase production?”

Much has been done by herd testing and by rotational grazing to reduce costs, increase production, and thereby make dairy farming more profitable. The message embodied in these avenues cannot be too strongly stressed, or too often repeated, if we are satisfactorily to do our share in feeding the Empire. Much has been heard of the salvaging of waste materials, but it is well to point out that steel cannot be used at the present time. It has been found in Australia that only the best clippings can be used for resmelting. No facilities exist in New Zealand for the resmelting of steel. On the other hand, the farmer can help in the drive for metals if he has any old cast iron. This can be used immediately. Again, with the advent of mechanized farming quantities of old harness are probably lying in sheds and the brass buckles from these, copper rivets or brass rivets could all be used. If the farmer will salvage these he will be performing a very valuable service. In the elimination of waste there is much that can be done without any great effort. On the dairy farm there are buckets and machines which could be patched before they actually wear out, thus avoid the cost of replacement. A little extra care of machines used outside such as tractors, etc., will prolong their life and thus avoid calls on sterling for replacements. USE OF WASTE OIL

While it is admitted that the motorcar is a necessity to the farmer, here again he can effect savings. This can be done by utilizing the waste oil for lubrication and other purposes and for oiling implements. Tyres should be run to their maximum capacity and in a hundred and one ways savings, small in themselves but important in the aggregate, can be effected.

The lead from leadrheaded nails is salvagable and this too offers an avenue where the farmer can help the national effort to build up supplies of raw materials. As increased production is the key-note for our national effort those farmers' who are sufficiently fortunate to own tractors and other imported machines could help their less fortunate brethren by making available the use of these modem machines for the intensification of cultivation on adjoining farms. Care can also be taken to see that supplementary foodstuffs for stock are not extravagantly used. Material assistance can be given by ordering supplies only in the quantities required. This applies equally as well to the farmers’ household necessities as it does to the outside requirements of the farm. Purchasing stocks of tea, sugar .and other imported commodities in essential quantities will greatly help while over-purchasing will be rendering a disservice to the nation. In these and a thousand other ways it should be obvious to every farmer the Dominion’s contribution to the, Empire’s cause can be and will be materially assisted.