PRIMARY INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1940, Page 6

PRIMARY INDUSTRY

NEED OF INCREASED EFFORT “HOME LINE OF DEFENCE.” ADDRESS AT ROTARY CLUB. “Primary production as the home line of defence” was the subject chosen by Mr R. H. Brewerton, a member of the Wairarapa Primary Production Council, at the weekly luncheon of the Masterton Rotary Club, held in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms today.

“It is an old saying that an army marches on its stomach," said Mr Brewerton. “In other words a wellfed army will obey orders —even a modern mechanised army must be fed. Hence food is just as important as munitions and other supplies. You will realise that foresight, careful organisation, and management are essential in the great job set before us of helping to provide not only for the ’armies fighting for the British Empire, but also for the dependants and countries from whence the soldiers, sailors and airmen are drawn. It may be interesting to point out that England requires, in addition to our usual production, fifteen to twenty thousand tons more cheese, ten to twelve thousand tons of bacon, two hundred thousand dozen eggs, and more lamb, beef and wool.

“To achieve this end. and for our own requirements, it will be necessary to increase greatly our present production area of cereals, roots, hay, ensilage and green fodder,” said Mr Brewerton. Wairarapa’s quota in this scheme has been set out as: Wheat, an increase of 400 acres; oats, an increase of 200 acres; barley, an extra 4,840 acres; roots, green feed, hay etc., an increase of 2,500 acres. An increase of 3000 cows, and an increase of 15,000 pigs. That is what is required from a little over two thousand holdings. It will be appreciated readily that every endeavour must be made to supply the necessary finance, labour and machinery and to ensure the prompt delivery of fertilisers and seeds and give all the assistance that will be most helpful.” "Our farmers have a real job of work before them and it is our duty lo render every possible assistance in their immense task,’’ observed Mr Brewerton. Traditional muddling and fear must give place to efficiency, science and success. Self-reliance, opportunity and usefulness lead to promotion, fortune, fame and ultimate victory. A good word spoken—who can estimate its value? A careless word spoken thoughtlessly, who can estimate the damage?’ ” On the motion of Mr G. W. Sellar the speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.