STOCK FOOD SUPPLIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 20, 31 October 1944, Page 6

STOCK FOOD SUPPLIES

SERIOUS SHORTAGES

DWINDL[NG IM PORTS

The shortage ,ol' various stock I'oods \va& discussed at the monthly meeting ol' the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union oil October 18.

A letter was received I'rom. the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. B. Roberts) in reference to the short supplies of Australian stock foods. It was stated that the large purchases of barley and barley-meal arranged for in Australia over a year ago by the Internal Marketing Department for forward delivery had all been delivered with Llie exception of one large purchase of barley meal for which tlie Australian Government had refused to issue an export license. The reason given was the acute shortage of stock foods in the Commonwealth caused main•J ly b}' dry weather. An effort, would be, made to secure licenses for this parcel and for other shipments from Australia, but the position would be governed by the weather there. A reply to the Provincial Secretary (Mr A. E. Robinson) regarding a difficulty in obtaining maize was received from the Minister of Agriculture, The letter stated that this matter was now handled by a committee formed under the Maize Marketing Regulations. Mr R. W. Dunning (Otakiri) said that, the position in regard to maize was very acute, particularly so from the poultry farmers' paint of view. Mr E. Palliser (Wailiou) said there would be a great difficulty in obtaining seed maize. The supply in sight was less than a quarter of the quantity available last year. The Waikato Sub. Provincial Executive% in a remit regarding the shortage of Australian barley for pig food, suggested that if future supplies could not be obtained from Australia an ell'ort should be made } to have New Zealand grown grain reserved for the, purpose. Mr J. 11. Kumiss (vice-president) said that the growers slated that the growing of barley at present prices was uneconomical. The cost of transporting the grain from the South to the North Island was a very iml,oru.'. nl fnct ° r - The qi]t>; tlon oi l ' K ' supply of barley A vas" reftn'V^ 1 lo Dominion Executive lor tnnne.dliite nclion.

Tlie inclusion of soya beans in tlio list of crops eligible for the pig food subsidy -was suggested in a remit from the Waikato Sub. Provincial Executive. Mr Dunning said lie understood that soya beans, required a class of soil better than tliat needed for maize. It was decided to reply that the cultivation of soya beans > so far as New Zealand was concerned, was still in the experimental stage, and that it was not considered wise, at present, to do what was asked.