THE PRICE OF MAIZE

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 202, 3 July 1939, Page 1

THE PRICE OF MAIZE

THE GISBORNE MEETING F UKTHELt PAKTICULAFS At the meeting of the committee of the Poverty Bay Maize-Grower s’ Association with Air. Thomas, of the internal Aiarketing Department, held at Gisborne last week, the growers* representatives put forward a strong case for the sliding scale basis, and asked' that the opening price should Jne on a basis of os 6(1 per bushel, f.o. In, Gisborne, rising in monthly steps to 6s in the autumn. Judging by the department’s attitude, the growers’ request in this respect- will not be fully realised, but growers now believe that- they may not be over optimistic 'if they, expect tin average between Jtist- year’s minimum and vthe figures - they requested at lastf-nigh-tis meeting; Tlrey were told that the policy of the department is to encourage the. disposal of Avow Zealand stocks by mid-summer so that- the department meat would be able to gauge the position of stocks in ease there was any need of importations to carry over a period of shortage before the nextsucceeding crop was harvested. Maximum in December. For that reason, the sliding scale would operate only up to December. The opening price, which was expected to lie announced' shortly, would cover July, sales, and from then on the rate would increase almost monthly until the maximum rate would be reached by December. The increases would-be so arranged that tlie net return to the growers would be the same in whatever month lie disposed of his crop, the "price for December; say, being designed to cover shrinkage and holding charges and returning the grower no more or no less than if he soldi it, say, in August. Growers present expressed their satisfaction with the arrangement-, and thanked Air. Thomas mid his department for the consideration shown to the growers’ requests lot' better marketing methods. Larger Output Expected As a result of the improved conditions regarding price and also the sliding scale, they believed that maizegrowing in the district would receive a great impetus. Larger areas would be- sown in maize during the coining spring aiul a substantial increase in the district’s output should result. They Pointed out- that with proper encouragement, Poverty Bay should be able tc< grow sufficient maize to cater for the whole of the .Dominion. That- encouragement appeared to- be forthcoming now, and the results should be- reflected in the coming season’s, crops. Kiventually. the district) should return to its previous nosition as a maize-growing district, when very large outputs were secured. Abend 13 years ago, it- is.stated, Povertyi Bliy sent~awav 56,000- sacks of maize, but during, the,slump period the shipments dwindled to 16,000 sacks. This year’s harvest should result in from 35.000 to 30,000' sacks being sent away, while tlie Bay ol Plenty figure is estimated at Si-00 to 10.000 sacks.