FIRST SUPPLIES OF RICE ARE DUE IN BAY OF PLENTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 54, 9 June 1950, Page 5

FIRST SUPPLIES OF RICE ARE DUE IN BAY OF PLENTY

Although there have been small quantities trickling into the dis"trict in the last "few years the first imports of rice of any quantity are expected in New Zealand late next month and limited supplies will be . distributed throughout the Bay of Plenty. At Whakatane rice has been more or less off the “in stock” list since 1942 and the expected shipment will be the first since that time;The. shipment will be brought to the Dominion by the Wairimu from Asia. The retail price will be 9d to lOd a lb., compared with the prewar rate of 3d a lb. The wholesale price has risen~from £l9 to £59 a ton.

The Wairimu loaded last month at Rangoon. This month she proceeds to Calcutta, Colombo, Singapore and Java to take on other Eastern produce. At the moment she is due in Auckland early in July. •Although almost a new generation of housewives has grown up since rice was freely available, retailers expect no difficulty in disposing of their stocks. They are, however, expecting great difficulties in coping with housewives who de-

mand rice after Whakatane’s allonation, which is considered hopelessly small, has been exhausted. Small Quantity One Whakatane retailer said that "he had a small quantity a few .months ago and had been able to supply a few of his customers but ?the shipment was very small. .He did not expect the expected supplies to be" very much larger. When tapioca and sago were made available about two years ago the first shipments were snapped up immediately, and. the demand soon slackened. Rice, however, is considered to be a basic food, and it is estimated that there > will always be a' good demand for it.

Larger supplies of rice are expected next year when it is possible -that the Government may withdraw the item from import control. Although there are several sources of supply—Burma, Siam,

.Malay and Australia—most of the .earlier shipments are expected to V 'come’ from Burma. Australia is said to be sending most~of its rice to the . ;Far Eastern destinations. Mean-

while, it is understood that no al4ocation has been made this year for importing rice from Australia ..■or Siam.