PRICE OF FOWL WHEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1924, Page 1

PRICE OF FOWL WHEAT

AC( Is I,AN I) ("(>M I'f.ALNTS. AI'CKJ.AM), la-!). ii. Tilt- poultry industry is directly affected ii.v tlic .'.hoi-lego in this season's wheat harvest. The price of fowl wheat has advanced, and it; has oil occasions cxcei-ilcd that of prime mill wheal, Auckland poultry fanners are urn in;; under a very serious handicap; ui fro.t, they state that at present priu . there is no profit upon ojgs or table poultry owing to the eiCti stive pric-; of feed. To-day fowl wheat cannot, lie landed in Auckland from the South Island, the only source of supply, for less than 7s a bushel, yet Australian wheat, if importation were' permitted, and the duty of per rental lifted, could ho landed at ."is Bd. The high price of wheat has restricted its use to some extent, and iliere has been a greater demand for maize, causing that grain to rise in price. Experts state, however, that if maize is used as a staple feed, only summer production is possible, and that means loss of output when prices are at their highest. Importers feel that the retention of the embargo against importation from Australia is unjust from every point of view. The price of Xew Zealnd grain is being forced up and up, poultry farmers are suffering, and grain traders are being prevented from fulfilling their ordinary function and carrying on legitimate business. It is understood that grain merchants who have applied for permits to import fowl wheat from Australia have been informed that traders will not he allowed to import, hut that the Oovernment itself will do so to make good shortages. Air E. \V. Griffiths, secretary of the Auckland Co-operative Egg Society, Ltd., said that in all probability a move would he made by kindred organisations to import fowl wheat from Australia or Canada. Complaint* had been made recently to the Government as to the high cost of feed, and although traders might he refused permission to import, it was noi likely that orgasised poultry farmers would be similarly treated. Ihe Auckland Society had not made a request, hut it would place a remit, to that effect before the conference of societies soon to Ire held, (.'util recently poultry keepers had not been receiving much more than one shilling a doz for eggs, and at such a price during the peak of the season they could not make a profit as long as fowl wheat was over Os a bushel.