Basis Ot Victory Is More Production of War Material And Food

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 15 (Supplement)

Basis Ot Victory Is More Production of War Material And Food

DN page 3 is detailed the State plan of campaign for increased ^ farm production. In this article Mr. R. B. Tennent, director of primary production, Department of Agriculture, discusses the means of executing that plan. He writes: It is clearly apparent that this war is to be won on a basis of production— fii st of all the production of war matenals and secondly the pioduction of foodstuffs. New Zealand's concern is to give up as many men as she possibly can for the fighting lme while at the same time maintaining or increasing primary production.

"Clearly this is a difficult problem which ea 11s for the utmost effort from the farming community. The Government is endeavouring to meet this situation and is utilising the voluntary services of prominent farmers and representatives of organisations which are vitally connected with primary production under the leadership of the National Council of Primary Production. The Department of Agriculture is associated with this organisation throughout the Dominion and it is playing an essential_part in the drive for increased production. "It is realised that the greatest increases in production will come from land already in a developed state rathei than from bringing in new areas, although there are many unutilised areas which : offer considerable prospects for potential development. The farmers war effort consists in intensifying his normal activities and putting into opera-

tion those well-known and thoroughly tested principles of farm management, for which he has already established a reputation. "The basis of a rapid increase in production does not lie wholly in the rearing of added producing stock though this is obviously essential for a ■ long-term production plan. It is stressed that the fundamental basis for an immediate increase in production must be by increasing the acreage of supplementary feedhay, ensilage and root crops. The experience of . farmers themselves has proved time and again that the provision -of -additionalj: summer and winter, feed will increase production and the fact is that at present only a small percentage of farmers actually provide sufficient winter feed to bring about maximum production. In 1939-40, 550,000

acres were cut for hay and ensilage and 400,000 acres sown to turnips against our 19 000,000 acres of sown pasture and arable land. This supplementary feed provision could, with profit, be doubled. "One of the greatest factors in the attainment of increased production is the elimination of waste. This point is clear enough whcn we think of the toll taken by disease amongst livestock and while improved animal husbandry will result in a reduction in disease losses, the basis for the maintenance of healthy stock is essentially a sufficiency of winter feed. "Another side to the question of reducing waste is the full utilisation ^ of farm equipment, and this is a side which must be stressed in view of any labour shortage which might occur. There are in New Zealand at the present time, 11,300 farm tractors which for the most

part are used to only a proportion of their capacity. It is highly desirable that farmers should extend their co-operative efforts in various districts to mobihse to the full this unused tractor power. "It is generally acknowledged that fertiliser is one of the greatest single factors making for increased production. Difficulty has been experienced by some farmers in securing their supplies of superphosphate just when desired. This

position has arisen from the unprecedented strain placed on fertiliser work as a result of the impossibility of procuring anything like normal quantities of imported fertilisers and the phenomenal demand for super on the part of farmers themselves. In consequence the works have been manufacturing at capacity but in periods of peak demand in spring and autumn they have been unable to immediately make prompt deliveries. If farmers look well ahead and place their orders with the works well in advance of

the time when they wish to apply their fertilisers, the difficulty will be overcome, obviating the rush of orders and insistence in deliveries at certain periods of the season. . "In appealing for increased increased production along the lines laid down in the Government's 'Fourteen-point Agricultural Plan', it will be understood that the appeal is not 'production at any cost' for obviously economic methods exploited to the full are the first essential. Again, the appeal is entirely voluntary. It is not intended to use coercive methods to compel farmers to produce, although many farmers have themselves suggested that compulsion should be used, but there are bound to be a few sluggards and obstructionirts who will be in mark-

ed contrast to the rest of the rural community. No doubt farmers themselves can best deal with such people. "There are many problems associated with the increasing of production in wartime — the labour problem and the difficulty of securing farm requirements being prominent. Better organisation can alleviate these difficulties to some extent and there is scope for improvement in this direction. The new scheme for financing increased production ensures that where this is an economic proposition, development in accordance with the terms of the production plan shall not be held up because of lack of finance. "The main point which has to be remembered is that we are fighting along-

side Britain for our Empire and for ourselves. Foodstuffs are of vital importance in a war of attrition, and as the war progresses Britain's dependence on our efforts will become more clarifisd. There is no more patriotic body of people than the farmers of New Zealand, many of whom served in the last war, and are again ready, willing and anxious to do their part in the present one. All the planning and talking about increased production will be futile if the individual farmer is not imbued with the desire to do his share. Farming is a profession for the individualijjt; every farmer has his own way of handling his own land and stock, and no one has a better knowledge of the limitations or possibilities of his farm. It therefore follows that in the final analysis the farmer himself is the one best suitcd to say how he can measure up to the present position, and how he can increase production on his farm, and aided by the kindly spring which is upon us, I fcel confident that we can leave the job to him."