POULTRY INDUSTRY BEARS WHEAT GROWERS’ BURDEN.

Shannon News, 22 September 1925, Page 3

POULTRY INDUSTRY BEARS WHEAT GROWERS’ BURDEN.

CANNOT GARRY ON AT PRESENT GRAIN PRICES. FOWL WHEAT COSTS MORE THAN MILLING. For the past two years the poultry farmers of the Dominion have found it difficult to obtain sufficient supplies of fowl-wheat to keep the industry going. Though the subject has been debated at length at conferences, and has been brought before the Government by deputations, the position remains as acute as ever, and the price of' wheat has risen to such a height that the industry is threatened with extinction. The hatching season has come round once more, and the poultrymen are deeply concerned as to whether they will be able to obtain supplies for tho season in sufficint quantity and at a reasonable price. Owing to the fact that a lesser area, was put down in wheat this year, the prospects for next season are anything but reassuring, and it is contended that unless the Government grants some form of relief it will be found necessary to import requirements. , The poultry farmers complain that they have been left in the hands of the merchants, and to-day have to pay 9s 6d a bushel for fowl-wheat, which is niore than has to be paid for milling quality. They claim that the Government’s policy of endeavouring to assist the wheat-growers of the Dominion hag resulted in less wheat being grown and more scope being given for speculators in wheat. ORIGIN O'F THE TROUBLE.

The position was explained to a “Dominion” reporter by Mr T. Bruce, of Palmerston North, president of the New Zealand Poultry Association. “The first blow' we received,” said Mr Bruce, “was owing -to the shortage of wheat grown in New Zealand in the 1923-24 season. Owing to the shortage the Government decided to import wheat both for milling and poultry purposes, having refused a request from the .poultrymen to be allowed to- import their own requirements under some system of a license. This wheat Avas sold by the Government to the merchants at prices ranging from 6s to 6s 9d a bushel, notwithstanding the fact that it was shown by the poultrymen, and substantiated by the merchants through the Press, that they could land their wheat in New Zealand at a cost of 5s per bushel, which meant that the poultry people were obliged to pay to the Government over £IOO,OOO more for the wheat. Similar wheat was sold to the millers at prices from ss. 7d to 5s 10d per bushel. IN THE HANDS OF THE: MERCHANTS ,“The following season,” proceeded Mr Bruce, “as a result of there still having been a shortage in the 1924-25 crops, notwithstanding a definite promise to a deputation to the Minister of Agriculture and the Prime Minister (the late Mr Massey) before any arrangements had' been, made between millers, wheat-growers, and merchants, that the poultry-farmers would receive every consideration, the Government have supported and are actually importing milling wheat under a scheme which entirely overlooks poultrymen’g requirements, this without any duty being paid by the millers, and at a price which is to range from 6s 8d to 7s. On the other hand, the poultry-farmers, with only sufficient wheat in the Dominion to meet , their requirements up to the end of September or early October, and this of a very indifferent quality, have been left in the hands of the merchants, who, owing to the shortage, have been able to Increase the price from time to time, and at no time have they sold for less than the price for milling Avheat, a,nd at present are quoting 7s 3d south, plus about 7d per bushel for sacks. This means that with freight and a fair profit for the merchant, wheat is being quoted in Wellington to-dav at from 8s 9d to 9s per bushel. This means approximately 9s 6d a bushel delivered "to the producers, all of whom- reside from, up to 100 miles from the markets. IMPOSSIBLE TO CARRY ON. “Under these circumstances,” continued Mr Bruce, “it is impossible for the poultry industry to carry on and increase production, as those interested in it desire. It is considered that the poultry industry, with nothing more than fair treatment, in a few years would become one of the principal primary industries of the Dominion, as an export trade has been developed, and has been found satisfactory, and importations of egg-pulp liave been entirely cut out. The importation of egg-pulp during recent years had reached large dimensions. On the other hand, Ave And flocks are being depicted, many hundreds of poultry farmers have been driven out of the business, and plants are lying idle, awaiting some definite assurance .from the Government that their present policy of enforcing a tax which amounts to approximately £75 to £IOO on every poultry farmer per 1000 head of poultry', shall be discontinued. We nave been assured that the reasons for this duty have been to protect and assist the Avheat farmers, but the only result has been to create a shortage each year, and compel the poultry farmers to pay higher prices tor fiR Avheat than .has been paid for mi 1 quality wheat, this amounting to H orn is to Is 6d per bushel. The for next season, owing' to a suit darea being grown, are causing tL to - interested in the poultry indue y grave concern, and unless some assurance is given promptly by tnc Government that this tax will be u some way modified, and that our .requirements will be assumed, and arrangements made for these requirements to be met at the proper time, it Avill probably be found necessary to import a portion of our requirements at a time when Ave find the Government urging greater produc * lf “The present is the hatching season,” proceeded the president of the

New Zealand Poultry Association, “and sufficient birds to produce tlie public’s requirements, and' probably a surplus lor export, Avould be hatched if the Government \yould simply give an assurance promptly that this industry would receive the support we claim it is justly entitled to; and which need cost the Government nothing in the way of finance. A MISTAKEN POLICY. “The New Zealand Poultry Association,” concluded Mr Bruce, “has taken this matter up with tho Government, through the Minister of Agriculture; the facts are Avell-known v to members of the House, and the Department of Industries and Commerce, and have been well ventilated both at the Farmers’ Union and the Poultry Association conferences. All Ave have been asking for during the past two years is a fair deal, and if would bo interesting to know why this industry has been asked to pay so much in order that the Government, might Carry out a policy ot endeavouring- to assist a few who are engaged in wheat growing, and which has resulted in less wheat being grown each year, and more scope given for speculators.”