MAIZE CROP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1939, Page 3

MAIZE CROP

POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND. INCREASE IN PRODUCTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. As a result of the increase in production it was anticipated that the local crop of maize next season would be practically sufficient to meet the Dominion’s requirements, thus enabling importations of maize to be re-duced-to a minimum, said the Minisister of Marketing. Mr Nash, in a statement last night. Mr Nash said that for some time past the Internal Marketing Division had been actively interested in the supply of maize not only to the extent of arranging any importations required, but also in stabilising local prices at a level to afford reasonable encouragement to growers in New Zealand. "The effect of the division's influence on the price of maize has been to prevent any undue inflation of values and at the same time to maintain prices in reasonable relationship with the cost of production,” the Minister' said. “It is satisfactory to be able to report that in consequence of this policy the production of maize in New Zealand has been increasing. In Poverty Bay, one of the principal districts concerned, the position is shown by the following extract from a recent report prepared by a leading stock and station agent: “Supplies of good quality maize held here are now little more than sufficient for the district’s own local requirements. though meantime values remain unaltered at the Marketing Board’s rate of 5s 8d November delivery and 5s 9d for December. The new season's crops are looking wonderfully’ well . . .Taking all factors into consideration. Poverty Bay during the coming season should have little difficulty in producing between 50.000 and 60.000 sacks of maize, an increase of well over 100 per cent on the last year’s crop.”