PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1939, Page 9

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

COUNCIL’S FIRST MEETING MEETING WAR CONDITIONS. , STABILISATION OF FARM COSTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The organisation of the agricultural and primary industries 'to meet the needs of war conditions was advanced yesterday when the first meeting was held of the Council of Primary Production. The chairman, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Lee Martin, presided. In addition to the members of the council, several members of Parliament were present on the invitation of the Minister. The Minister said that the function of the council was to advise the Government through him on the specific direction of farm production in order to maintain, to increase or to modify primary production. It would also be necessary to maintain the closest touch with primary producers’ organisations throughout the Dominion to ensure that any emergencies which might arise would be met with the least possible disruption to the normal course of farming and business. An executive organisation would be established. “There are three main avenues along which organisation must proceed,” said the Minister, “and I feel that urgent action should be taken before ground is lost and before we are faced with declining production. The first of these is the organisation and direction of labour for normal and special seasonal requirements, the second the maintenance of farm production of both crops and live stock, and the third the organisation of the supply of farm mater - [ ials in order that prices may be reasonably controlled, and tha,t in the event of a shortage of some essential commodity a system of ration may be operated .... “I hope that by the fullest use of tractors, whether owned by farmers, by contractors, or by the Government, it will be possible fully to maintain the necessary areas in arable crops. It wil] also be necessary to introduce considerable diversification of crops to meet New Zealand’s requirements of certain products normally imported and to supply urgent demands which may arise in the United Kingdom. . . . “As it now appears probable that, for the duration of the war, the major products will be marketed under Imperial Government commandeer, and that prices will be adjusted within rigid limits, consideration must be given immediately to the stabilisation of farm costs, and particularly to the pre - vention of unduly high prices for es sential farm requirements which it is necessary to import. The department through its field staff, will maintain close touch with local production as well as with distributing merchants. “I wish finally to emphasise that the all-important consideration is to secure the goodwill and fullest co-operation of the whole of the farmers of the Dominion in a supreme effort to increase primary production, and I rely confidently on your experience as leaders of the farming community to advise ably in attaining our objective.”