MAIZE PRICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 166, 16 July 1938, Page 10

MAIZE PRICE.

5/- BUSHEL ASSURED.

THE GISBORNE DISTRICT. ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, states that as the result of a visit of an officer of the Marketing Division to the Gisborne district, where meetings have been held, it has been decided to assure maize growers an immediate market on the basis of 5/ a bushel f.o.b. Gisborne for July, August and September delivery.

■ "It is not the intention of the Mar- I keting Division," said Mr. Xash, "to purchase maize unless the growers are unable to find a ready market at that figure." He pointed out that considerable advocacy had been brought upon the Government to allow the importa.tion of- maize into the country. The disposal of the New Zealand crop had a considerable bearing upon the quantities of imports which would be permitted and also the date at which such importations would take place. The reason for the undertaking being given to the growers was because, in the event of quantities arriving into the Dominion conflicting with the locally grown article, then the Government would take the responsibility of seeing that the price indicated for the Xew Zealand crop would be made available to all growers.

Had to be Held. A similar line of action was followed with regard to the previous year's crop, but the price fixed on that occasion was necessarily on a higher basis because of added charges- incurred through the growers who had been unabie to sell having. to hold their crop in crib until late in the season. This. year, the growers would be enabled to see that maize finds, its way on to the market freely at the beginning of the/ season. By so doing they will-be-relieved:of the necessity of holding the bulk of their production for a late market. - By fixing a prompt delivery price the supplier will thus be enabled to find an market, but it is realised, added Mr. Nash, that storage costs will of necessity require to be protected as the season advances.