§ 57. Mr. de Freitasasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the large areas at present waterlogged, what encouragement he is giving to the harvesting of grain by rice-gathering machines designed for the paddy fields of South-East Asia, and the sowing of grain by aircraft.
Mr. VaneI am glad to say that only a small proportion of our grain crops remains unharvested. Any farmer wishing to use the type of harvester, known as a "bog-master", which has been especially adapted for use on wet land, should be able to make arrangements with an agricultural contractor. There are still problems to be overcome before the sowing of grain from aircraft becomes an established technique, but my Department is giving what help and advice it can.