MAIZE PRICES

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 217, 7 August 1939, Page 3

MAIZE PRICES

MINIMUM lIATES FIXED THIS SEASON’S SELLING UP TO' 5/9 IN DECEMBER While no official public announcement Imsdbeeu made l.:y the 'Government regarding the minimum prices I fixed loir the marketing of this year’s maize crop, growers ha.ve been intormed that- the price will cemmonoo at os Ld per bushel, f.0.b., Gisborne, and range by monthly increases up to os 9d in December, states the Herald. This arrangement was .made following the visit of a representative ol the Infernal Marketing Department to Gisborne. He interviewed the Poverty Bay Maize Growers’ Association and also representatives of the merchants. and advice has been received in Gisborne that a tentative arrangement, made at the time lias been con lii Hied, Minimum Monthly Rates The following minimum monthly rates have been fixed : Per bushel. July o/J August- 00 September 5/B October o/7 November 5/S December 5/9 Very little maize is available yet, but already some business lias been (tone in Gisborne maize at the minimum rate lor July, namely os dd. threshing is proceeding fairly rapidly, and: larger quantities are expected for shipment next mouth at the rate of os od.

Clearing 0/ Local Supplies. ■Growers have indicated their satisfaction with the prices, and have given an assurance t hat, they will otter their grain • freely so that- the desire of the Internal Marketing Board to have most of the local stocks cleared by the end of the year should he> realised. 'l'he clearing of local supplies by December is considered desirable so that the department will know at an early date the position regarding available stocks for the purpose of determining the •quantity necessary to import. 'flic crops in the district are reported to lie threshing out very well indeed. and in practically all eases are up to expectations, while in some instances the yields are better than expected. The grain is also of excellent ■quality. In regard to both quantity and quality, the position is more lavourahle than was thought possible during an early part ol the season, when the drought threatened to ruin a- large number of crops. Several were led out to the cows, owing to a lack ol feed, wide in other instances the dry weather caused an almost complete, failure so far as cobs were concerned. However, the majority of the crops made a goodl recovery following the rains late in .January and early in February, and were further helped by the mild conditions following the breaking of the drought late in April.