FOOD PRODUCTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 9

FOOD PRODUCTION

BRITISH EXPANSION NEED FOR SWIFT ACTION REGULATION OF SUPPLIES [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Feb. 3, 6.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 2. The new Minister of Agriculture, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, in his first speech as Minister to-day, said that if Britain was to achieve that expansion of food production from her own soil which he considered necessary, action must be swift and direct, and if the workers were to be expected tc return to the land they must have a fair deal. The Government had . already expressed its general approval of the proposal made at the Sydney conference for regulation of supply through a commodity council. He instanced the action taken concerning mutton and lamb and said that the Government favoured this method in the case of suitable commodities, but the general intention of the Sydney conference was that the initiative should come from the producers, and, while the Government would give help and encouragement, he hoped that the initiative would be forthcoming from all over the Empire. The Government had made good progress with its review of the domestic situation, and expected to discuss proposals with the National Farmers’ Union next week. The Daily Herald says that the farmers expect to get £15,000,000 a year, more than half of which will be from the State. COMMODITY COUNCILS I British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Feb. 2. I Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, speakiing in a House of Commons debate on a private member’s motion calling for measures tc ensure prices which would cover the cost of efficient production and regulation of imports, agreed that unless there was greater • stability of prices the farmers could not maintain the fertility and productivity of their land. As to import regulations, the Government had already accepted the principle of commodity councils, as proposed at Sydney, and favoured that method of control. He indicated that legislation that might be necessary would be introduced as quickly as possible after the conclusion of the review of agriculture which was now proceeding.