OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 December 1943, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

PRIMARY PRODUCTION (To the Editor.) Sir,—I see by the report of Sir H. Batterbee’s address: “Rations in Britain,” that any diminution of these ‘meagre rations would, be serious to the /gallant people of Britain, and that Mr 'Nash warns us as regards any falling off in New Zealand supplies. Why then is farming classed as a non-es-sential industry? As a child in Standard 1 I was taught that New Zealand’s primary industry was farming. It is New Zealand’s wealth, and any country is worth just what her soil produces. Now, if Mr Nash does not want a drop in our produce exports to Britain, why was the offer of a quantity of phosphates from America refused? The shortage of this phosphate caused farmers to grow less wheat this season. For instance, one farmer who used to grow 130 acres of wheat in other years could only manure 80 acres this year. There must be hundreds of other farmers in the same position and Mr Nash must or should be aware of the manure shortage. So why does he ask for more or as much production? The shortage of labour at lambing and calving time was a part of the cause of losses of stock. Are there no men in the camps who could be released for farming?—l am, etc., TOWNIE CEL. Masterton, December 7.