MINISTERIAL VISIT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 83, 20 June 1944, Page 5

MINISTERIAL VISIT

HON. B. ROBERT'S TOUR

ARRIVAL ON FRIDAY NEXT

The' Minister of Agriculture, Hon. B. Roberts, with other departmental officers will meet the Primary Production Council on Friday next. In expectation of this conference, several important matters effecting the district were held over from last week's meeting for discussion with him. One of the 1 most important will be maize production for the. coming season. Any progress towards planning is held up by the absence of information as toi the price to be allowed by the Stabilisation Commission. The present season's yield is far behind the demand. A contributing fact was the. low price fixed by the Tribunal and the dilatory action in arriving at a decision. The quota expected to be grown in the Bay is 2000 acres. The gumboot distribution will also be reviewed. It is known stocks are actually in town, but the merchant has no authority to release them. Information is on hand that, further importation is contemplated to supplement the N.Z. manufacture. The authorities indicated, that information of a scheme for rural housing was to be available at the end of May last. A brochure was to be submitted to the. farming community setting out a proposed scheme for providing housing and general farm buildings. The brochure will include plans and costs of various types of houses, together with all the revelant explanatory matter. i The damage to production by the. recent flooding and caterpillar pest will also have attention in the discussions.