WHEAT FOR FOWLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 64, 16 March 1915, Page 2

WHEAT FOR FOWLS.

REPLY OF PRIME MINISTER.

TO REQUEST OF POULTRY KEEPERS. The president of the Auckland Poultry Keepers' Association has received a communication from the Prime Minister with regard to the wheat problem.

At the annual meeting of the Auckland Poultry Keepers' Association, little | more than a week ago, it was decided, in view of the awkward position in which poultry keepers found themselves owing to the scarcity of wheat for fowl-feed, and owing to the high price demanded for the inferior quality of grain that was available, that a further request be made to the Government for a supply of wheat for the use of poultry keepers. It wa 8 also resolved that the Government be asked to ascertain the value of fowl wheat in other markets, with a view to importation.

In forwarding this resolution to the Prime Minister, Mr. S. B. Bull, the president of the Association, pointed out that it had been stated that the first shipment of imported wheat cost 6/ per bushel to land in Auckland, while the price of local fowl wheat at the same time wa s from 7/9 to 8/ per bushel. The Prime Minister was informed that the Association had undertaken the distribution of any imported wheat that might be allotted to them, to any poultry keeper, whether a member of the Association or not, and charging only the actual cost of cartage, storage, etc. The president pointed out that it had been suggested that it would be a comparatively simple matter for the officials of the Department to obtain information from other markets, and that if it was found that wheat could be imported into New Zealand at a reasonable cost, the various egg circles and associations throughout the Dominion would willingly work with the Government in arranging for the distribution of the grain to the consumers.

.Mr. Massey replied to the request as follows:—"I have communicated with South Africa and Oueensland with regard to prices and the possibility of arranging a trial shipment of maize for this country. I understand that the new crop in South Africa will not. be fit foi shipment for about two months. The flour mills, which for t!i P last few months have been short of wheat in this country, are now in full operation, and pollard and bran are becoming very plentiful, so that I think we are over the worst, so far as the shortage of food for fowls is concerned."

The president of the Association points out that the first paragraph in the reply is no answer to the ouestion put forward in the letter, since there was no mention made in the letter about maize, which was useful for fattening purposes, but which was practically useless as an egg-producing food. With regard to the second paragraph. Mr. Bull states that inquiries made of the Roller Milling Co. elicit the information that there are not •five sacks of pollard in the two mills, quotations nominally being £S. Other merchants quoted £7 15/ for bran, while pollard was practically unobtainable.