MAIZE COMMITTEE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 7, 12 September 1944, Page 4

MAIZE COMMITTEE

LOCAL MARKETING CONTROL

ri DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

Regulations were gazetted last week making provision to establish a maize marketing committee. The function of the committee is to advise the Minister in all matters relating to maize importation, prices and distribution. This season's crop is again on a very low level, necessitating some, measure of control in directing an even supply to the various channels of consumption. A clause to the regulations regarding the sale and purchase of maize s.tates: "No producer shall, except with the authority in writing of the sell or agree to or offer for sale or deliver any maize or maize products; and no person shall for purposes of resale purchase or accept delivery of any such, maize except, with the authority in writing of the committee." The committee is representative of growers, merchants, Poultry Board and the Government Departments of Agriculture and Marketing. Advice has been received that Mr W. A. McCracken has been ap-. pointed by the Minister to represent the growers in the Bay j>f Plenty. The first meeting uf the committee will take place in Gisborne on Thursday the 14th instant. About three weeks ago, delegates from Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay met the Stabilisation Commission together with departmental officers in Wellington and discussed pro-? duction costs. Figures were rubmitted which indicated a revision of prices were necessary if planting was to be encouraged this coming season.. It is anticipated the Commission's decision will be available at an early date. Once that is known, the local committee will convene a meeting of growers with a view to implement a drive for in- , creased planting. In the the Fertiliser regulations allowed an allocation of two cwts. for maize | that amount is now i to be increased to three cwt.