MORE PRODUCTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1940, Page 6

MORE PRODUCTION

WAIRARAPA REQUIREMENTS PRACTICAL STEPS NECESSARY. IMPORTANT PROPOSALS SUBMITTED. A review of the requirements needed for increased production was given to a meeting of the Masterton Primary Production Council yesterday after-

noon, by the chairman, Mr N. Lamont. Practical steps required to be taken to carry cut the programme were discussed. Steps would have to be taken to ensure that skilled shearers and other seasonal workers were available. It was decided also to make known

to farmers the details of the new 4F scheme, which provided substantial subsidies to enable farmers to train inexperienced men. It was also pointed out that farmers could assist the council to keep in touch with the labour position by advising the Placement Officer of their requirements as much in advance as possible. It was apparent that the production programme was almost entirely one involving increased cropping. For the dairy farmer this would mean more cropping and hay making to provide adequate food supplies for dairy stock in periods of pasture shortage. In particular it was stressed the importance ■ of adequate summer feeding in this district.

The object of the district would bo to increase the export cheese available by about 20 per cent, which would amount to approximately an increase in production of 1000 tons. With reference to the increased demand for export bacon it Was felt, that in addition to the direct contributions by local pig fatteners, the Wairarapa being one of the important arable districts in the North Island, must be expected to provide a substantial amount of lhe barley for pig fattening which in the past few months had been imported from Australia. Endeavours were being made to discover what area could reasonably be required but it was probable that 1000 acres would not be too much. A further item of great importance to the Wairarapa was the demand for the maintenance and if possible for an increase in the annual amount of beef and lamb exported. Over the past few years this district had grown about 5000 acres of rape and every farmer who had made a practice of growing this crop was asked to at least main- 1 lain his area and if possible increase it so that heavier weight lambs could be turned off.

During the past few years the Dominion's production of threshed oats had been sufficient for local demand but it was probable that there would be an increase in the amount of con- | cenlrale feeding in order to stimulate production so that the area of 800 acres which was the largest area of threshed oats grown in the Wairarapa for any one of the past few years should be at least maintained this year. So far as wheat was concerned a further definite increase over the past few years was required if tlie Wairarapa was to contribute its share for making New Zealand self-supporting. In the past about 1000 acres had been grown but this year the aim was to increase that by 500 acres. It was understood that there were already indications that the area in oats had increased slightly and tlie area in wheat had increased about 29 per cent. There still remained, therefore. a substantial deficiency below requirements which must be made up by increased spring sowings. It was realised that in the case of barley, for instance, one of the main reasons for lhe small area grown in i past years had been that this crop was i not a very profitable one to tlie growier at a price acceptable to tlie pig fattencr. Consequently, it was felt that if offers of the use of land were made to the Masterton Council similar to what had been done in Hawke's Bay and other districts that, crops such as barley and possibly mangels might well be grown on such areas. In order to give effect to these pro-1 posals and to provide more specific and' practical guidance to farmers general-! ly, the sub-committees previously set | up to deal with different sections oi’i farming were re-formed. It was realised that the Council must ' have some .means of keeping in touch | with tlie position regarding increased I production and appreciation was expressed of the offer made by the Wairarapa Seed and Produce Merchants’ Association to keep the Council in- !'< rm from sales of seeds of the trend towards increased acreage for various crops.