MAIZE PLUCKING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 306, 16 May 1941, Page 5

MAIZE PLUCKING

ARRANGEMENTS MADE

LARGE HARVEST THIS SEASON

Fallowing a recent meeting of representatives of the maize growers,, pluckers, Native Department and 1 local Council of Primary Production, details of which were published in last Frid'ayls "Beacon," the MaoriProduction Committees at Paroa, Poroporo, Te Teko and Matata now report that they have finalised arrangements with the pluckers in their respective districts and 1 in consequence are in a position to undertake imn mediately the task of harvesting the largest maize crop grown in the Whakatane district for very many years. The price agreed upon by all the pluckers in the Rangitaiki Plains area, based on a fair average crop, is £2 4s per acre pluckejcl,, bagged, and partly loaded on to vehicles for delivery to cribs;—the pluckers to provide one leader for every loader the grower provides. For crops that are above or below average in yield, a corresponding adjustment in price is to be mutually agreed upon by the parties concerned. In the event, however, of a dispute arising in regard to price an arbitration committee has been arranged for In each, plucking, zone, and the decision of this committee must be accepted if the work is' to proceed under the scheme. It is, sincerely hoped that the work of these committees will-be made as high as possible by the fullest co-operation between grower and plucker. All plucking gangs will find themselves in food and provide their own transport* For the general! information, of pluckers and growers alike they arc advised that the principal maize areas in tlie Whakatane district have been grouped into the following zones: —- Te Teko.—All crops, on the western side of the Rangitaiki River. The Matata pluckers will co-operate ! with the Te Teko organisation in tliis zone. Poroporo and; Paroa.—All crops on the eastern- side of the Rangitaiki River and up to the Whakatane River. Taneatua.—All crops on the eastern side of the, Whakatane River and including the Ruatoki and Pekatahi districts. Growers requiring pluckers. should contact their respective! Zone organisation, the representatives, of which are as under:— Te Teko.—Mioses Toma (phone 16M Te Teko Exchange), or Mr K. Runciraan (phone 312). Poroporo.—Joe Watarawi (phono 2305) will take and deliver messages for Ilaia Tominika, or Mr K. Runciman (phone 321). Paroa. —Fred Harawira (phone 50R) ancl Te Keepa Tawhio (phone 198 M) or Mr K. Runciman (phono 312). Taneatua. —Will be notified in n day or so. Pluckers have yet to meet and finalise arrangements. Grower? j should contact Mr J. Merritt,, Ruatoki (phone 15J-Taneatua exchange) The growers arbitrator in each zone are as follows :— Te Teko.—Mr W., J. Murray. Poroporo and Paroa.—Mr W. A. McGracketn, Etlgecumbe. Taneatua. —Mr H. G. McClready, Taneatua.

The plualcers will appoint their own arbitrator as occasion demands.

In order to preserve the greatest amount of maize possible (this is of National importance) it is proposed to first of all pluck those areas liable to flooding, or where extreme difficulty would be experienced in loading following a spell of wet weather. Maize grown on safe ground would accordingly be left to last. Althougn it is, fully realised that this arrangement may possibly be a handicap to some growers it is confidently expected, that thev will face up to the position in the riglit spirit. The plucking organisation as outlined above may not be perfqet by any means but it represents the genuine effort of many people to grapple with a real problem. The war has been responsible for several such problems, and will continue ta be, but each and every oivcan be overcome if those who are faced with them- are prepared to (Continued in next column).

play their part with enthusiasm. So far members of the Maori race have shown in diverse ways a deep consciousness of their responsibilities to their country and in their latest gesture is manifest still further evidence that they continue to see their duty clearly. Growers will be doing their part to the full if they are prepared to co-operate to the best of their ability, and above all refrain from attempting to outbid their fellbw growers by the offer of higher prices than thosei arranged for. Each Maori Production Committee has been supplied by the Council of Primary Production with a list of growers in each zone indicating those areas that it is considered necessary to pluck first. Although every care has been taken in the compilation of these lists; it is possible that some, grower has been overlooked. It would be as well, therefore, if growers either perused the list in their zone or communicated with their Zone Committee to ascertain whether their name is included and in what order of plucking.