CROPPING PROGRAMME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 February 1942, Page 2

CROPPING PROGRAMME

DOMINION REQUIREMENTS FOR NEXT SEASON. OUTLINED BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An outline of the agricultural cropping programme for the 1942-43 season, which in the opinion of the Government and the National Council of Primary Production is necessary .to meet the requirements of the Dominion during the coming year, was announced last evening by the Minister of Marketing, Mr Barclay. Mr Barclay said that in the case of wheat, a total area of 245,733 acres was grown during the 1940-41 season, while this season, 1941-42, a total acreage of 258,000 acres was sown. For the coming year, it was the opinion of the Government that the minimum objective was a sowing of 300,000 acres. Referring to oats, the Minister said that last year 306,944 acres were grown, of which 71,758 acres were for threshing. The estimate of total sowings this season was 275,000 acres. It would be advisable that plantings in the coming year should be maintained at least at the level of this season. Last year approximately 10,700 acres of maize were grown for threshing and the total crop would be fully absorbed within the Dominion. Producers in the maize-growing areas were asked to maintain their growings at not less than 10,000 acres for the 194243 season. “The Government is fully aware, in calling for an increased cropping programme, that there will be the need to ensure that adequate labour is available,” said Mr Barclay. “The Government has therefore made arrangements for the necessary labour to be provided to ensure planting this autumn and spring and for the subsequent harvest next season. If this labour is not obtainable through the ordinary channels, provision has been made to secure the assistance of the military authorities. If the petrol is available in the country, farmers can be assured that sufficient supplies will be obtainable to carry out this work. In addition, it is the intention of the Government to organise if necessary the supply of essential machinery which will enable all producers, and particularly farmers with small holdings, to harvest their crops with a minimum utilisation of manpower.”