PROGRESS IN PRODUCTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

PROGRESS IN PRODUCTION

HOM D 4. G. SULLIVAN'S SURVEY

Evolution of Land and Other Industries

MORE DIVERSIFIED DEVELOPMENT NEEDED

It is scarcely necessary to elaborate on the important part that the agricultural and pastoral industries have played in the development of the Dominion for they have been and are still the foundation of our economic life. New Zealand is the world’s greatest exporter of butter, cheese, and frozen lamb, mutton and pork, and is a major source of wool supplies for the international markets. 11 is greatly to the credit of our farmers that New Zealand, a small country territorially, occupies such a position, for though we have a most favourable climate for pastoral production, it has been the adaptability and resource of our farmers and the efficiency of their farming methods that have determined our national position. UNSHELTERED MARKETS. The international markets we serve are unsheltered; we have continually increasing competition from other countries and if we are to maintain and improve our position we cannot afford to be complacent. We must shape our productive methods to meet the change of time. The impact of science on primary production is continually becoming more marked. Two hundred years ago change in agriculture was imperceptible, but think back over these last twenty-years and the sum of changes is astounding. New varieties of cereals combining disease resistance and greater yield have been evolved, intensive selection has been made of higher yielding pasture plants and we know much more of the management of pastures, mineral deficiencies have been tracked down, the new science of genetics is giving a direction to animal breeding and new mechanical aids have been developed. There are coutless examples of the yield of science and scientific research to agriculture. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. In New Zealand, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research ■function to assist the farmer. The Dairy Research Institute of the latter’ Department has completed ten years of valuable achievement directed towards uie improvement of quality of dairy produce and widening the avenues of utilisation. The Grasslands Division

The ''Wairarapa Times-Age" is to be congratulated on its enterprise in publishing a special illustrated supplement to mark the occasion of the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s Show. Both economically and socially, agricultural shows have a very real significance for New Zealand. They provide a meeting ground for farmers in an atmosphere that is calculated to stimulate progressive discussion of their calling. They give farmers an oppority for seeing outstanding live-stock, of examining new implements and of renewing old acquaintances. They provide a common meeting ground for town and country and give to each section of the community a realisation of the complementary parts they play in creating the Dominion’s wealth. .

of the Plant Research Bureau has made considerable progress in developing superior strains of rye grass, white clover and other pasture plants, while the Agronomy Division has fulfilled a similar function for forage crops. The Plant Diseases Division, now well established in Auckland, is continuing its valuable work on the control of the fungous and bacterial diseases of farm crops. The Soil Survey Division has been extended and large areas have now been surveyed to provide a definite basis for topdressing and other phases of pasture management. The severe wastage in dairy herds is receiving increased attention frjm the Live Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture. The research now being conducted in regard to facial eczema is the most extensive project of co-operative research ever attempted in this country. There will be a continued development of agricultural research activities so that the agricultural industry may maintain and extend its efficiency with an increasing goodwill for the quality of products. A prosperous agriculture is essential to the prosperity of the nation. ECONOMIC BALANCE. The Government’s policy is directed not only to the improvement of production in the agricultural and pastoral industries but to the further development and diversification of Secondary industries as well in order to preserve a better balance of industry. To some considerable extent our almost complete reliance on export markets for a number of the major farm products has constituted a grave weakness in our economic structure. Many of the products of our primary industries form the raw materials of manufacturing industries which are capable of economic expansion within the country. As more factories are established and more workers are employed, greater quantities of x primary products, foodstuffs aijd raw materials, will be required. The best market for the produce of any country is its home market and a greater consumption of primary produce within the Dominion will be a further safeguard to the primary producer against market fluctuations. The expansion of manufactur-

ing industries must not, however, be at the expense of the primary industries; the two must grow together, each assisting the other to attain greater heights of efficiency and production for the well-being of the nation as a whole. I wish .to extend to the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association my very best wishes for a successful show. Signed— D. G. SULLIVAN, Minister of Industries and Commerce.