MAIZE PRODUCTION.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 16, 13 October 1944, Page 4

MAIZE PRODUCTION.

INCREASED PRICE TOO LITTLE AND TOO LATE Maize growers met last Tuesday to consider a communication fromy the Internal Marketing Department. The telegram read: "Government have granted further subsidy of s>ix<pence per bushel on next season's maize making one shilling subsidy in all.' Urge growers do their utmost to plant, substantially increased areas to meet urgent requirements"

Mv W. A. McCracken presided over a representative meeting from, the Whakatane and Opotiki districts. The chairman stated the department had asked for 2400 acres from this district and he outlined the negotiations to secure an increased price. When the Minister of Agriculture was in Whakatane last June representations that the price was uneconomic were made to him and he indicated his willingness to have the Stabilisation, Commission re-ex-amine the subject. That opportunity did not eventuate until the middle of when cfelegates from Gisborne. and this district submitted a statement of costs. A difference in farming practice of the two areas necessitated a request for a higher increase for the Bay the prices asked for being Gisborne Is and the Bay 2s per bushel.

The general expression of those present showed their disappointment that the authorities had not realised the importance of an increase to offset the rising costs, that being the chief factor in- the decline of production; also any interest the growers, had in cropping, had been further weakened by the Government's procrastination in arriving at a price decision.

One speaker summed it up as beii?g "Too l'ittle and too> late."

The following resolution- from the meeting was forwarded to the Minister and Mr Sullivan: "That this meeting considers the subsidy offer telegraphed by the Internal Mar-, keting Division of an additional 6d per bushel on next season's crop is totally inadequate to cover costs as submitted to the Stabilisation Commission. It is expected that the reaction will be a decrease in the acreage of maize grown. Producers request immediate reconsideration of subsidy while there is yet time for planting."