GROW VEGETABLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1942, Page 2

GROW VEGETABLES

URGENT NEED OF PRESENT SITUATION. CALL ON DISTRICT RESIDENTS. “I want to stress upon you and the public of the Wairarapa the importance of the production of essential foods,” said Mr H. L. Esau, president of the Masterton Horticultural Society, speaking at the annual meeting last night. “We, as a horticultural body, must urge the growing of more vegetables. We have to supply not only our own needs, but we have to feed an army of men. The price of vegetables for the'season just past is.an example of what we will face again unless we produce more. Only this week the rationing of seed potatoes has been announced by the Government. We have never faced the problem of the shortage of man power as we should have, and the onus falls upon those who are left to see that nobody starves. “The principal vitamins, A, B, C and G, are contained in vegetables and without these essential vitamins we cannot expect to have a fit army, nor can we have a healthy race,” said Mr Esau. “Not only are we faced with the production of vegetables, but the seed growers and farmers of New Zealand, in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture, are making strenuous efforts to produce vegetable and farm seeds, not only for New Zealand use, but also for export to the countries from which we formerly drew our supplies. Without disclosing figures, there are thousands of acres in New Zealand, and hundreds of acres in the Wairarapa, cultivated and harvested for seed alone.

“It is shameful to ask the Government to hold enquiries as to why vegetables are so dear; the remedy is in the peoples’ own hands,” said Mr Esau. “In every district you have experienced men and women who can solve your garden problems, advise you of the best varieties to grow, and help you to have a profitable garden. I appeal to everyone to help themselves by growing more vegetables and thereby help New Zealand to win the war.”