MAIZE GROWING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 470, 2 March 1933, Page 5

MAIZE GROWING

(Press A ssn.-

POVERTY BAY MOVE TO FORM PROTECTIVE ASSN.

— By TelegrajiH — CVipyrlght)

Gisborne, Wednesday. The decision to form a Maize GrowI ers' Association, with the intention of ■ making concerted represontation& to ; the Government for better prptec1 tion of the industry, was reached at i a largely attended meeting of Povi erty Bay growers. The main objecr i tion referred to by speakers was that j cracked grain was admitted duty free , as crushed. It was explained that pre- . viously no objection was raised to the j importation of the crushed product, s as its poor keeping qualities prevent- ] ed it from being a serious competitor of the local industry. The position was now altered by the evasion of duty through the process of cracking and it was considered imperative that some protection should be af-r f orded. . • -* Speakers explained that the increased exchange rate. had been some advantage, but this was largely qounteracted through shipping companies carrying African maize at ridiculously low rates as vessels other'wise had to travel to New Zealand in ballast. An indication of the effect of importations on the industry in Poyerty Bay was shown by the fact that pro- , duction dropped from 34,000 sacks in 1930-31 to 16,000 last season while imports last year represented almost exactly the difference. An interesting suggestion submitted to the meeting was that a mill for 1 the manufacture of cornflour should j be erected. It was stated that the Do- ] minion imported £75,000 worth of ; cornfiour annually, and there was no reason why supplies should not be manufactured locally thus en'suring a • good market for growers and the replacement of an imported commodity w.ith a domestic one, and the disposal j of by-products to poultry farmers.. | The Honse adjourned at 1 p.m. !