Feeding 70,000,000 People
p. 36 · Read in the full issue
HOW the Netherlands East Indies administration deals with its popu lation problems was explained by Mr. J. van Holst Pellekaan, Dutch Trade Commissioner in Sydney, at the June meeting of the Pacific Islands Society.
It is no light task to produce sufficient food each year for 70,000,000 people, or to provide land in the outer islands for the large annual increase in native population. Even a decrease in rice pro duction of from five to ten per cent., the
Commissioner explained, would have dis astrous consequences. The border lino between famine, and sufficient for re quirements, is very fine indeed.
Dr. H. lan Hogbin, moving a vote of thanks, paid high tribute to the Dutch as colonisers. “We have been fortunate in having such good neighbours in the East,” he said, “and we want to keep them as neighbours!”
Major D. Junor, O.C. Signals of the Fiji Defence Force, arrived in Australia recently to join the A.I.F.