APPENDIX I
Page 266
QUEENSLAND-BRITISH
FOOD CORPORATION
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR 1948-49
From start of Operations to March 31, 1949
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preliminary
Initial investigations,
...
Decision to commence activities in Queensland
Action taken prior to the establishment of the Corpora-
tion
Legislation setting up the Corporation Establishment of the Corporation
Staff ...
...
...
...
...
Acquisition of property for grain production
Agricultural operations
Construction operations
..
...
...
Plant, equipment and supplies generally
Establishment of piggeries
Finance
Grazing activities
...
...
Appointment of auditors and solicitors Acknowledgment
Statement of Accounts
•
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84
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87
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87
88
88
88
89-90
Preliminary.
The Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Queensland have for some time been concerned at the trend of world food production in relation to demand. Their advisers pointed out that world food production is relatively stationary, while demand has increased considerably due to the rapid growth of world population. Unless active steps are taken to increase the supply of food it will not be possible to maintain existing rations of food, let alone make the necessary improvements, in food standards that many countries urgently require and that are most desirable in every country seeking an improved standard of living generally.
Unlike the situation after the first world war, there are not now available huge tracts of easily cultivated land in temperate zones, such as were developed in the 1920's in North and South America and Australia. It therefore has become most important to find additional large areas for food production, which must necessarily be sought outside the cooler temperate regions used for growing winter cereals.
The Government of the United Kingdom, for these reasons, set up and financed the Overseas Food Corporation, which is now embarked on a very large-scale project for growing groundnuts (peanuts) and other oil seed crops in East Africa. The Government of Queensland has been most anxious to develop areas suitable for growing agricultural crops on a predominantly summer rainfull such as experienced over most of the State. The Government therefore invited a delegation from the Overseas Food Corporation to visit Queensland in order to see areas that it was thought could be rapidly developed to provide additional food for the BritishGeorl9.097
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