APPEAL FOR MAIZE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 09, Issue 07, 18 September 1945, Page 5

APPEAL FOR MAIZE

7000 ACRES WANTED INCREASED PRODUCTION SOUGHT "The reception we have received has been good; the farmers have been sympathetic and many have intimated they will do all they can to increase production," stated the director of the Fields Division Department of Agriculture Mr J. Smith, speaking in Gisborne on the campaign for increased maize production recently. ''Every acre of maize that can be grown should be grown and farmers should have no fear they will have any of their crop left or their hands. The price is right and if a farmer is in the position to grow maize there is no reason why he should not," Mr Smith declared. The reason for the need for increased production the improved position with regard to labour fertiliser and materials were outlined by the speaker. For Home Consumption As'ked what would happen in the case of over-production, and whether the same sort of thing as had. happened to the vegetable contracts with the I.M.D. which bad terminated w T as likely to happen to the maize, Mr Smith replied to the effect that the maize, was wanted lor New Zealand consumption while the vegetables had been wanted for the forces, in the Pacific who no longer needed them. There was such a tremendous shortage of wheat that the rationing of maize would continue i'or some time. The Minister had given a guarantee that lie would take 7000 acres from the district, hut it. appeared that if 10 000 acres were grown the whole amount would be 9 taken. Length of Guarantee Asked how long the price, programme would last ? Mr Smith stated that an announcement regarding long term guarantees was awaited, and lie would take up the matter immediately on his return' to Wellington, if no statement was made in the meantime. The feeling was that unless a guarantee was given for a long term plan, the required amount of maize would not be grown. Two Months Too Late '"This appeal should have started two months ago,"- declared Mr K. Chairman, of the Maize Growers Association. "A farmer plans from year to year, not day to day. He has to know what price he will get months ahead so that he can plan his working. The Government appears to think thai all it has to do is to authorise an increase in price and they will get results overnight." Mr Smith stated that one thing the department' had been urging was that the price should lie announced early. .■ In reply to further questions, Mr Smith stated that there was little blood and bone manure available 9 and the chances of increased supplies seemed remote, also that there was little hope of a reduction in the cost of tractor fuel. "This is the lirst time I have visited this district and I am impressed with the type of country and the way it i.s being farmed," said Mr Smith in conclusion. He added that as far as the maize was if the 7000 acre mark was not reached then lie hoped it 9 would lie 3 20-bushel yield which 9 amount would be the same, thin/