New Zealand's contribution to the British diet.

Present position ‘To state the position of New Zealand food exports in concentrated form, I present Table I , which I believe to be reasonably accurate, showing quantities of food commodities received in Great Britain from New Zealand before the war, and for each year following 1938. Annual fluctuations will be noticed. Tables 2 and 3 give interesting data relating to production in New Zealand and to the effect of that production on the British market. Dairy products. The immediate prewar average for butter was higher than normal because of a very good season for 1937, and it is not until 1948 and 1949 that we can show similar export figures. The change from butter to cheese production in 1941 was due to Britain’s decision to import only sufficient butter for a 2 oz. ration, but owing to a shortage of animal proteins to ask for maximum cheese supplies. In 1942 ample supplies of cheese became available from the U.S.A. on lease-lend, and the much shorter haul meant a substantial saving in tonnage; New Zealand was asked, therefore, to change her factories back to butter, and because Australian butter imports were falling rapidly at that time and demands for troops in the Pacific became substantial, the total available for shipment to Britain was only sufficient to maintain the 2 02. ration which, in fact, ran from 30 June 1941 to I I November 1945, when it was raised to 3 oz. The diversion of supplies of dairy products to overseas forces is plainly seen in the 1944-6 figures for preserved milk. In 1947, because of the needs of the mother country, butterfat production increased, and with excellent and lengthy dairying seasons heavy tonnage has resulted. Increase in dairy products available for export has been secured for several reasons: ( I ) With the return of farmers’ sons from overseas more labour became available. Perhaps labour is the most critical factor in defining the quantity of dairy produce that can be produced and exported. Not only is farm labour chronically short, but so also is dairy factory labour-this in spite of good wages and a short working week of 44 hr., with overtime rates paid in the heavy part of the season. As in other countries, factory wages and conditions tempt young men and women from the land, and a Public Works Department which always has projects in hand is an added attraction. New Zealand is not a heavy industrial country, but several small industries have been set up and these act detrimentally to farming. At present, a farm labourer’s gross wages are E6. 6s. 6d. for a 44 hr. week, which includes necessary week-end labour, and in the stabilization of prices brought about by guaranteed prices, labour costs are taken into consideration. For example, a farmer milking with one assistant forty-eight cows with a low average return of 215 Ib. butterfat per cow receives a labour reward for himself of E61o per annum and for farm working and maintenance, including assistant’s wages, E431 per annum and a total income from the farm of EI I 14.