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of the work being done by Maoris. By this means large quantities were saved which, would otherwise have been lost. This maize, now that it has been dried out in the cribs r is being used in the manufacture of poultry mash, analyses having shown that it is quite suitable for this purpose. The total crop this year is not likely to exceed 50,000 sacks, a decrease of approximately 25,000 sacks on that of last year. The Government subsidy of Is. 6d. per bushel is being paid to growers of last season's -crop, plus an additional 6d. which has been granted to cover increased costs of fertilizers and other materials, due to the removal of subsidies last year, making a total subsidy on the crop just harvested of 2s. per bushel. For the next season's crop a subsidy of' 3s. per bushel has been approved, and it is hoped that this will result in an increase in area, although flood conditions in Poverty Bay have somewhat hampered sowing. The Department of Maori Affairs is still the largest maize-producer in New Zealand and has done good work over a large area stretching from Hawkes Bay to the Poverty Bay and Bay of Plenty districts, and up to Kaitaia in North Auckland. Their assistance in maize-production over the past two or three years has been very valuable. Hops After two years of poor crops this year's yield was back to normal, and the total crop harvested was approximately 3,050 bales, an increase of about 600 bales on thatof last year and 1,200 bales on that of 1946. Ample hops were available from this year's crop to meet the brewers' requirements and to provide hops for retail sale in grocers' shops for householders' requirements. A small quantity was also available for export to Great Britain. The price for the current year's production has remained at the same figure as that approved by the Price Tribunal last year —namely, 3s. per pound.—and with the increased yield is considered a reasonably satisfactory one to the growers. The Hop Research Council, which was set up last year, has been working satisfactorily, and it is hoped that the result of the investigations and trials carried out by the Council will, in time, be helpful to hop-growers. Raspberries The 1948 Nelson crop, at 250 tons, was better than that of previous seasons. A substantial increase was shown in the quantity sold through retail channels in buckets, and it is probable that increasing quantities will be sold in this way in future. One of the difficulties facing the Nelson growers is that of transport, and investigations are being made by the Nelson Raspberry Marketing Committee into the possibility of air transport from Nelson to North Island centres. With the increased crop, jam-manufacturers received an increased allocation, but this is still far short of their requirements. With the increased areas which have been planted during the past few years there should be some increase in production provided the weather is favourable. Fertilizers Importation of sulphate of ammonia, sulphate of potash, and muriate of potash have been continued by the Department during the past year. All these fertilizers are in short supply overseas, and sulphate of ammonia is still subject to allocation by the International Emergency Food Council. The allocation to New Zealand does not meet requirements, and importations have to be rationed. Muriate of potash and sulphate of potash are also in short supply. Sulphate of potash has been available only for tobacco-fertilizer requirements. The importations during the past year were # approximately 2,000 tons sulphate of ammonia, 3,000 tons muriate of potash, and 500 tons of potash. The shortage of these fertilizers is likely to continue for another year or two.

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