A SERIOUS POSITION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 2, 27 August 1943, Page 5

A SERIOUS POSITION

maize production COSTS GROWERS COMMITTEE SET UP Through the lack of a permanent association of maize growers for the Bay of Plenty, there was a clanger "tjhat no ac- . tion would have taken place to bring to the notice of the Government the excessive costs incurred and labour difficulties experienced during the past season. A fairly representative, gathering; ol growers attended a meeting convened by Mr p. t Baird, also present were members of the Production Council. ' Mr W. A. MeCraeken presided, :md stated the desire of thq» Govr eminent for increased maize production and outlined, the difficulty that occurred two seasons ago, when o\ ci -pi oduction took place. Sincc then considerable reduction of cropping has taken place, with the result that an estimate of maizo in: ciibs is likely to show a shortage" of market requirements of between 30-4.0,000 bags. The general opinion of the meeting was that,, cropping was unprofitable at. the fixed prices and in. addition the humbug Avith labour lor plucking made the growing of maize almost impossible.' A committee comprising Messrs McCrackcn, Baird and Allen was ajjpointed to confer with Gisborne growers. They met. at Matawai on Tuesday last. An examination of the costs of cultivating, - harvesting and .shelling, over several areas were taken out and from the general average it was conclusively shown that an increase of the sta-« bilised price ay as required. to bait ance accounts.

A resolution was drafted and telegraphed to the Minister. The Internal Marketing Department and Mr Sullivan, M.P., drawing their attention to the unsatisfactory position of growers and! if increased cropping was to be encouraged then readjustment of prices was essential. . Allowances to cover atldetl costs of production since 1939 have bccik granted to woo'lgrowers, dairying* and, other grain growers, but. so far the Government have overlooked maize. So it is expected consideration will be- forthcoming. Mr Sullivan has replied,, stating he had taken the matter up witlk the Minister. Besides being used for slock and poultry food, maize is now being, manufactured in New Zealand into- j starch and glycerine for munitions. Farmers are asked" to look into their possibilities of planting for the new season. Arrangements ai'e likely to be under the contract system, with a guaranteed market. To overcome .harvesting trouble the? importation of machine pluckcrs being followed- up.