Organising full Co-operation of State with Farmers

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 13 (Supplement)

Organising full Co-operation of State with Farmers

Two factors could not be ignored when the call was made by Britain for further production in New Zealand. The first was that the State must have the warm co-operation of the farming community if the call was to receive an adequate reply. The second important factor was that farm production does not lend iteelf to shock tactics. Where animals are concerned the course of production is controlled by Nature rather than by man, and the cycle of farm production cannot be hurried as it can, say, in the output of manufactures. In regard to the first essential— the cooperation of the farmers with the State— much has been accomplished. The evolution of the present plan did not happen overnight. The plan had its birth strug-

gles, but it survived and is functioning with increasing vigour and smoothness It is flexible enough to enable modifications to be made should occasion demand or experience indicate, and for that reason is more likely to render good service in any unknown conditions in which it may'be required to function. The basis of the farm production plan is the complete control and regulation of the farming industry by the State for the duration of the war. The powers of control are not exercised except in special circumstances, but if necessary the Government can determine not only what kind of production shall be requir-

ed of any holding, but can supersede the authority of the land owner should such be necessary in the interests of the Do-minion-wide movement for increased production. That power, of course, would be used only where recalcitrance left no other course open. The acceptance of State control is one of the penalties of the war, but so long as co-operation with the State is general the existence of its compulsory powers will scarcely be felt by the individual. As the first step towards that co-oper-ation the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, set up a Nationai Council of Primary Production, of which he is chairman. Its chief executive officers are the Director-General of Agriculture, Mr. A. H. Coekayne, and Mr.

R. B. Tennent. director of the fields division of the Department of Agriculture. Other members of the council are representatives from farmers and farm workers' organisations. The Nationai Council established provincial councils, also composed of nominees of organisations representing the farm community and farm workers, but with completer understanding of local needs and conditions in their respective districts. Supplementing the provincial councils local committees, ,operating in still

smaller areas were set up, their functions being to contact with the individual farmer and co-ordinate each farm's operations with the Dominion effort for increased production. Supplementing the Nationai Council use was made of the district pig production councils, an increase in the output of pigmeat being one of the chief demands from Great Britain. There were, many difficulties to overcome while the movement was gathering way. There was a lack of cohesion between the councils and committees that dampened the earlier enthusiasm of the farmers and it became evident that further action was necessary. Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., was asked to reawaken interest in the movement by giving a series of addresses in Taranaki and other parts of the North Island, and the same procedure was adopted elsewhere with the aid of other speakers. Tlie result was the creation of a large number of local committees and a general stimulus to the movement. In the meantime the Government requested the New Zealand Dairy Board, as the executive of the dairy industry, to deal with the alterations in the industry's output made necessary by Great Britain's request for at least 15,000 tons more cheese from New Zealand than tho Dominion exported last ycar. The dairy division of the Department of Agriculture still retains its control of manufacture and grading of dairy produce, but to the Dairy Board has been left the direction of the swing from butter to cheese, a movement that has demanded sacrifices from individual farmers and from co-operative dairy factories. The board is doing its work with a minimum of friction or publicity. It is supporting scientific inquiries by the Dairy Research Institute and by the Department of Agriculture into many conditions the improvement of which would save losses and therefore increase output. It needs only a little investigation into those inquiries to realise not only the number of "leaks that require to be plugged" but also the thoroughness with which the board is endeavouring to increase the output of cheese without inflicting more sacrifice than is unavoidable. This sketch of the organisation of the New Zealand farmers' share in winning the war does not pretend to be a complete story of all the efforts made in that direction. It indicates some of the difficulties inseparable from such a quest and such a diversion from the settled policy of an industry. It may, it is hoped, show cause for patience on the part of any individual who finds future operation of a nationai plan is bringing untoward results to him. The success of the movement, after all, depends more upon the individual than upon organisation. In that regard the present season gives ground for much optimism. The response of the farmers generally has been prompt and effective. They are shaping their efforts towards increased production by the provision of adequate feed supplies and by all that is included in the term better management. With determination widespread there need be no fear that the desired results will not be forthcoming.