HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1944-07-06, Page 7_BRITAIN STEPS UP FOOD
PRODUCTION
(By C. J. Allbon, Jr.)
The story of Britain's food produc-
tion is one of theloutstafiding stories
- of the present war. Few realized that
when this war started Britain was
only 40% self-suffiCient in food. To-
day that figure has been improved
120% and behind it lies a story of
organiz?tio9 and effort that is a credit
to the farmers of the British Isles.
Not only did Britain fail to produce
more than 40% of her food require-
. meats, but she also imported over
8,000,000 tons ,of animal food stuffs.
DONALD B. BLUE
Experienced Auctioneer
Licensed for Counties of
HURON & BRUCE
All Sales Capably Handled
R. R. 1, Kincardine
Phone: Ripley 30-24.
•
WELLINGTON FIRE
Insurance Company
'Est. 1840
An "all Canadian Company which
has faithfully served its policy
holders for over a' century.
• Head Office •- Toronto,
McLean Insurance Agency
Wingham
Business and Professional Directory
DR, Rs L. STEWART
PHYSICIAN
Telephone 29
A. H. MCTAVISII, B.A.
Teeswater, Ontario
_ Barrister, Solicitor, Notary Public
and Conveyancer
Office: Gofton House, Wroxeter
every Thursday afternoon 1.30 to
4.30 and by appointment.
Phone - Teeswater 120J.
is Ws BUSHFIELD
Barrister; Solicitor, Notary, Etc
Money To Loan
Office - Meyer Block, Wingham
HARRY FRYFORE
Licensed Embalmer and
Funeral Director
Furniture and
Funeral Service
Ambulance Service
Phones: Day 109W. Night 109J.
FREDERICK A. PARKER
OSTEOPATH
Offices: Centre St., Wingham
Osteopathic and Electric Treat-
ments, Foot Technique.
Phone 272. Wingham.
PLUG SMOKING tOBACCO
Sure! it goes further
and lasts longer
of building a ,store in the backyard,.
They were lugging boxes out of the
woodshed and planks from the lumber».
pile in the orchard, The sight of the .
three little people tugging away at the
big boards was too much for me. L
set it up for them . . . and just as
I stood back to admire my handiwork.
I caught a glimpse of Mrs. Phil look-
ing out the pantry window. She was-
laughing quite heartily at the sight of
the "children" working away like a
caterer before a county lodge picnic.
I went on back to the hay-field and
forgot about the whole thing. At sup-
per time you can imagine my surprise.
to find an old sheet spread over a cart-
opy arrangement over the top of the
"store". That looked like the work of
a grown-up and Patricia Ann confid-
ed that her "mummy" had. come out
to play for a while, I discovered also
that they had quite an array of merch
andise on the shelf. There were dolls
and clothes for dolls . of all
description . . . and my carpet slippers
and my Sunday shoes, My tobacco
was sitting up in a prominent place
along with my best pipes. Hungering
for a smoke I had to buy a pipe and.
the tobacco for a nickel. They wanted
a dime but settled for the smaller
amount.
Mrs. Phil had difficulty getting
supper. It seems that the youngsters
taking advantage of her interest in
putting up the sheet-canopy had raid-
ed the pantry, Dishpans of all shapes
were laid out and filled with concoc-
tions of foreign nature. When the,
Higgins children departed, Patricia.
Ann protested vigorously because her
establishment had to be dismantled.
Toiling away at night putting back
the lumber and the boxes and finding
one of my good ties employed as a
ribbon to tie up a gift box I wondered
to myself if it were such a good idea
. . . this spurring of children's imag-
ination.
WEEDS ARE GREEDY
Besides monopolizing. more moise,
ture, many weeds use up twice as
much nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and
potash as does a well developed oat
plant, states the National Weed Com-
mittee. Weeds ,also increase the cost
of labour and equipment and greatly
increase the cost of preparing crop
products for both animal and human
consumption. Weeds in cereals not
only lower the value of the grain but
they reduce the value of land. They
are also hard on machinery and cause
the use of more binder twine than is
required to harvest clean crops. They
harbour insect pest and funges diseas-
es. While, with labour shortage, it
may not be possible to give all the at-
tention needed for cultivation, it is pos-
sible not to aggravate the situation by
seed contaminated with weed,.'"
seeds.
WINGTIANI ADVANC4-TIv14$
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
REPRESENTATIVES OVERSEAS
W. A. CRAWFORD, M, D.
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
Phone 150 \ Wingham
InlYSIC/AN AND SURGEON
OR, W. M. CONNELL
MUGGS''ANirSKEETER1._,
Phone 19
Ji A. FOX
Chiropractor and Drugless
Therapist. •
RADIONIC EQUIPMENT
COMPLETE HEALTH
SERVICE
Phone 191.
K. M. MacLENNAN
Veterinary Surgeon
Office - Victoria St., West.
Formerly the Hayden Residence
PHONE 196
Wingham, Ontario
A,, 13,, or C,
(b) The complete 1941 June 4 census
return for the farm, including all
the usual statistics of crop acre»
ages and livestock numbers, tcy»
gether with supplementary infor»,
mation, asked specially for Farm
Survey purposes, on rent and
length of occupation of the farm.
(c) A plan of the farm showing its
boundaries and the fields contain-
ed in it, on the 6 in, or 12144 in.
scale.
This information provides a com-
plete picture of the farm and will also
be invaluable for post-war planning,
During the last war 38% of the
arable land of Britain was under crop,
Last year the percentage had increased
to 47%. It is expected that ie. 1944
the acreage under crop will be some-
thing like 12,000,000 acres and Britain
expects to maintain this increased
acreage at, least until 1947 in order
that surplus products from the export-
ing countries will be free to move to
the occupied ,countries of Europe
where the needs.' will be great.
Machines Increase Production
In discussing the increase in pro-
duction with Canadian newspapermen,
the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. R.
S. Hudson, pointed out that machinery
had played a large part. For instance
the increase in tractors imported from
Canada and the United States jumped
from 55,000 to 150,000. This in large
measure permitted the carrying out of
Britain's increased food production
without an increa,se in manpower.
Since July, 1940, rib key men have
been permitted to leave agriculture.
Today 80,000 women form Britain's
Land Army and. Mr. Hudson is mighty
proud of the' work they have been
doing. "The uniform we have provid-
ed for this army is the smartest in the
service," he said, and has done much
to attract to this service. Some. 20,-
'000 prisoners are also used.
Wheat Production and Cost
Touching on the production and
cost of wheat grown in this country,
the Minister said that production per
acre was the highest in the world and
the cost per bushel' about '70 cents.
He pointed out that Canadian wheat
laid doWn here cost 11/6 per cwt. of
112 lbs. In pre-war days Britain had
1,800,000 acres under wheat. Last
year this figure had grown to 3,300,-
000, acres. The quality of the land
varied considerably for some produces
eight quarters and some as low as
three.
After the war the Minister felt there
would be a large increase in cattle in
this country and that milk production
would be much higher than it is to-
day.
Speaking about the increased ef-
ficiency in farming, Mr. Hudson told
the pressmen that whereas pre-war
efficiency had only increased about
two per cent. there had been a 30%
over all increase in the last three years
-the highest in the country.
Financial aid has also been granted
the farmers. For instance about $8.44
is paid the farmer for each acre of old
grassland ploughed. Payments of over
$12.00 per acre are made on crops of
rye and wheat harvested and almost
$50.00 • per acre on potatoes. Grants
up to 50% are made in approved cases
for draining or ditching schemes. A
subsidy of 50% or more of the cost
of purchase and transportatiop of
agricultural lime is paid. A subsidy
CarrS SCRAP 110c)K.,
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is given on hill sheep rearing of about
$2,00 per ewe and a hill cattle subsidy'
scheme of about (13,00 'per head was
drafted in 1943, In Addition County
War Agricultural. Committees may
give further aid, by, carrying out culti-
ovation for a farmer needing may and
labour; the Committees lend
money for machinery, seeds and fertil-
izers, and are available to give the best
technical advice.
To make farming more stable the
Government 'has fixed prices for all
important products on the basis of
adequate returns. The production of
milk has been particularly encouraged
by higher prices. These fixed prices
will be maintained for at least one
year after the war. Prices are, how-
ever, changed from time to time in
accordance with production costs,
The Labour Situation
Pealing with the labour situation,
the Minister stated that in December,
1942, there were 370,000 farmers and
their womenfolk on the land as well
as 700,000 men and women workers.
Today there are also 80,000 in the
Women's Land Army, besides 300,000
other women working on the land.
Only those in the Land Army who are
volunteers are entitled to wear the uni-
form. It is interesting to note also
thal in 1942 80,000 officers and men
of the forces offered to assist when
labour was short and some 200,000
women and children went out on
bicycles to lend a hand, In the har-
vest of 1940, 8,000 school boys ancil
school girls went into camp and help-
ed to bring in the harvest. In 1941 over
12,000 school boys were employed and
the number in 1942 was about 31,000
boys and girls. In 1943 it exceeded
50,000.
Wages in agriculture have increased
greatly during 'the war and today wo-
men are paid 48/ or about $10.00 per
week and their keep. In the summer
they work 52 hours and in the winter
48 hours per week. Only volunteers
are accepted in the Women's Land
Army and five out of six applicants
are turned down. The minimum wage
for men is 65/ but there have been
cases where men have received £15
per week during special seasons and
as high as £17. There is no ceiling
on salaries paid in the agricultural
field, and competition for labour has
been particularly keen.
Mechanization of Farming
Farming has really become mechan-
ized in. Britain. We have already
pointed out that the use of tractors
jumped from 55,000 in 1939 to 150,-
000 last year and accounts for the
reason why tractors are so difficult to
purchase in Canada and the United
States. The supply of tractors in both
countries was rushed to Britain and
has played a large part in improving
the food situation in this country. The
number of principal cultivating instru-
ments in ttrs'e in 1942 was about 13'/4
times more than the prewar number
and by the end of 1943 this had risen
to about 21/ times pre-war level.
The amount of harvesting machinery
has not risen to the same extent, but
the greater use of existing machinery,
longer hours per day and longer period
of operation, together with the intro-
duction and. development of the use
of improved types such as the com-
bined harvester-thresher, have enabled
the much larger wartime harvests to
be dealt with effectively.' By the end
of 1943 the increase in harvesting
By R. J. SCOTT:
414 AWRALIAtt 401.0 14U45Et:
4:,t0,11,114 lass WOULD eawordit
Asea A.Ccon.D1144,
•ro emesEwr DAy 401.0 PRICES . -
machinery over pre-war levels had
reached two-thirds. Through the
County Agricultural Executive Corn-
mitteee the greatest possible amount of
work was done by each machine
through' the formation by farmers of
district pools of their own. machinery
from which all could draw help in
time of need, and the fostering of the
bro
aa principles of good neighborli-
ness,
In the middle of 1940 an interesting
scheme was initiated to train local
blacksmiths to do the increasing
amount of repair work needed on agri-
cultural machinery. Oxy-acetylene
welding plants were set up in many
villages.
There are many other phases
connection with agriculture in 'Britain
which we may be able to touch on at
a later date, but we will close off this
article with a reference to the financial
assistance given farmers.
3,051 Farmers Assisted'
From the inception of the Agricul-
tural Requisites Scheme in March,
1940, up to August, 1941, a total of
3,051 farmers received assistance
amounting to £314,737 or over $1,-
250,000. The average value of the
goods and services supplied to each
of these farmers approximated £103
or over $400.00. On September 1,
1941, greater powers were given to the
County War Agricultural Executive
Committee to approve application
for assistance up to £300 and there
was some relaxation in the tangible
sercurity required.
PHIL OSIFER OF
LAZY MEADOWS
By Harry J. Boyle
Imagination is a great thing. Some-
times it takes very little to spur chil:
dren into activity. • In fact once you
start them the whole thing can become
embarassing. In fact it's a great deal
easier to get children started than it
is to get -them stopped. A child's
imagination is something like a snow-
:ball rolling down the side of a hill on
a soft day, It gets bigger and bigger.
Patricia Ann and two of the Hig-
gins children were moping on the
back kitchen porch. They had been
playing dolls and gradually this seem-
ed to lose solid attraction for them,
so they just sat down. Going into the
house in the middle of the afternoon
for something, I asked them what the
matter could be. Usually they're
about as inactive as a Mosquito bomb-
er. They just didn't have any ideas.
Being just a child at heart I suppose,
I offered the idea that they play store.
They smiled and thanked me and sat
on. I went on into the house, feeling
just a little disappointed.
The idea seethed to catch on hoW-
ever because when I went on out to
the barn again they were in the midst
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
TRIPLETS SPY OUT "PRETTY FIREWORKS" MAR CHERBOURG
Cpl. Harold Myers of Lancaster, Pa., lets these
MI', French, triplets peek through his field glasses
to see the "nretty fireworks" made by the U.S.
Geo OM
artillery barrage, on the road. to Cherbourg.
children are Chantal, Jacqueline and rgette
of a now liberated French village.
This situation gave rise in Germany
to the belief that if England's life lines
could be cut on the high seas she
would be _quickly brought to her
knees-but the U-boat campaign was
beaten by the same British doggeddess
and determination, that has outwitted
the German scientist in many other
fields and neutralized the value of his
"new" weapons as they appeared dur-
ing the past four years.
A Farmer Takes Hold
The task of stepping up England's
food production was placed by Prime
Minister Winston Churchill in the
hands of a farmer-a man who had
made a success of his own farm, Mr.
R. S. Hudson. He brought to his
task the practical knowledge required
and with the fullest co-operation of
his associates in the government and
public spirited, citizens throughout the
farming communities who volunteered
their services, he has improved the
output of food in this country by 120%
and raised in the country the animal
feeding stuffs formerly imported. It
J. N. CRAWFORD
Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc.
Bonds, Investments & Mortgages
Wingham Ontario
THOMAS FELLS
AUCTIONEER
REAL ESTATE SOLD
A Thorough Knowledge of Farm
Stock.
Phone 231, Wingham
is well to note here that the increase
in food production during the last war
was only 6%.
British Farming Standards Are High
The productivity of British farms is
the highest in the world. For instance
the average yield of wheat in Britain
is 17.8 cwts. per acre, against 9.7 cwt.
in Canada • and 7.6 in the 'United
States. The difference lies in intens-
ive cultivation against extensive culti-
vation.
Scientific Research .
Throughout -the war the Govern-
ment has brought to the farmer the
fruits of scientific research. In 1941
a National Farm Survey covered every
farin in the country of five acres and
over and the field 'work was practically
completed by the end of 1942. The
survey fell under three sections:
(a) A "farm record" for each farm
which gives information under
these heads: Conditions of tenure
and occupation; the natural state
of the farm, including its fertility;
the adequacy of water arid elec-
tricity supplies; the management
condition of the farm, and its
wartime ploughing up record. The
information on the management
condition of the farm is summar-
ized in the grading of the farmer,
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