MORE WHEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 April 1942, Page 4

MORE WHEAT

MUST BE GROWN IN THE WAIRARAPA CONTRIBUTION TO WAR EFFORT. APPEAL TO DISTRICT FARMERS. The imperative need ol an increased acreage being sown in wheat in the A airarapa for the coming season’s crop was emphasised by Mr A. W. Mulholland, Dominion President of the Farmers’ Union and Mr R. B. Tenncnt, Director of Primary Production, at a meeting of farmers and others held in Masterton this afternoon. Mr Pi. W. Kebbell presided.

Stating that the matter was one of the gravest importance at the present time, Mr Mulholland said that since Japan had entered the war it was more than ever necessary that demands should not be made on shipping for bringing to this country wheat and other domestic supplies. They were also faced with the possibility that ships might not be able to come to New Zealand, hard though it was to realise that such a situation could arise. In the past several years New Zealand had on the average imported about 2,000,000 bushels of wheat per year. After dealing with certain aspects of the war situation in the Pacific, Mr Mulholland said it was possible that the successful holding of New Zealand might be due to farmers carrying out what was asked of them by ensuring a supply of essential foodstuffs.

The quantity of wheat aimed at was 300,000 acres and preferably more than that, said Mr Mulholland. That meant roughly a twenty per cent increase in the area. A great deal of regular wheat growing areas had been growing about as much wheat as they could and they had to look to those areas which had net been growing wheat. For that rea-» spn his appeal was addressed not only to wheat growers but to those farmers who were not regular growers but had land suitable for wheat. He asked those farmers to go as far as they could in the production of wheat. He knew there were areas in the Wairarapa not usually growing wheat that could be used for that purpose. In the Wairarapa he was assured that there was ample machinery available, with a little organisation, to cope with any increased acreage and if the acreage were beyond the capacity of the machinery available he was sure the Primary Production Council would meet the situation.

LABOUR SHORTAGE. Mr Mulholland said it was realised that certain difficulties were likely to arise, the foremost of which was labour. Measures could and were being taken to meet these difficulties. In the South Island farm workers were given leave from camp to carry out the harvesting of wheat. Under this scheme, when a placement officer was notified, in many cases men were available from camps within 24 hours. That scheme could be extended to cope with any essential industry. He hoped to be able to discuss with the authorities shortly other means by which the situation could be met. The same scheme was being applied to make men available for the preparation of land for wheat and for the sowing of wheat. He felt he was safe in saying that whatever the circumstances, the Government would not allow wheat to remain unharvested.

The next difficulty to face, Mr Mulholland continued was that of fertiliser supplies, which would be made available in the best interests of the country. He thought he would be safe in saying that this season and next season they could expect to get a hundredweight of fertiliser per acre for wheat growers. The best way of tackling difficulties was to determine to overcome them. It was their job to see that they grew not only enough for their own requirements, but some over for safety. A quantity of wheat recently purchased in Australia was for reserve purposes and could not be counted on in meeting normal requirements. AN IMPERATIVE CALL. “We have got to get action to get this extra wheat,” said Mr Mulholland, who asked all farmers in a position to do so to grow wheat. He asked them to stand up to it and realise that it was .a question of life and death. It was not a question of arguing about details. How they were going to get that increased acreage largely rested with the individual farmer. He was not in favour of compulsion at the present time, as he thought the farmers would grow the wheat without compulsion and moreover such a scheme could not operate this season. He was quite satisfied in his own mind that compulsion would not be necessary in this country. He asked them to enthuse their neighbours with the idea that they had to grow wheat for the safety of the nation.

OBLIGATIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS Mr Tennent said he felt perfectly sure that when the farmers realised that wheat was all-essential, the objective of 300,000 acres would be attained. He emphasised the really excellent job by farmers, in the South Island, particularly, in the production of linen flax. Within a period of nine months, New Zealand had established a linen flax industry greater than the pre-war linen flax industry of Northern Ireland. That was a wonderful achievement. In the first nine months, 13,200 acres of linen flax had been grown and eleven factories established. In the following year there were 21,000 acres of linen flax and 17 factories. He proceeded to speak on how the farmers had also risen to the occasion in the production of seeds of essential fodder crops. That industry was valued at £lOO,OOO. Moreover the seed was guaranteed to be of equal quality to that previously imported from Britain. Mr Tennent also referred to what was being done to supply certain essential drugs, not only to meet New Zealand requirements, but to allow of the export of considerable quantities. Did it seem ridiculous that a country like this, with its potentialities, should not grow its own requirements of wheat? The farmers were also to be congratulated on the effort they had made in changing over from butter to cheese. He was satisfied that the farmers would grow the wheat; it was up to everyone to pull their weight in the war. As he had indicated, the farmers had done their part. Last year not much more than 1,000 acres of wheat were grown in the

Wairarapa. That should be 5,000 acres under present conditions. He asked farmers to do their utmost to give New Zealand' the essential commodities which they required.

WORK OF PRODUCTION COUNCIL. In endorsing what had been said. Mr Ben Roberts, M.P., (a member of the Primary Production Council) drew attention to the valuable work being done by the Primary Production Council, of which Messrs Mulholland and Tennent were members. He spoke of the possibility that farmers not growing wheat might be asked to grow potatoes and vegetables. They were not going to allow New Zealand to be short of food. He expressed his confidence that Wairarapa farmers would rise to the occasion. Speaking as a member of the Wairarapa Primary Production Council, Mr J. Robertson, M.P., said he' was sure that the farmers would meet the position successfully. (Proceeding.)