AUSTRALIA'S NEW INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 11

AUSTRALIA'S NEW INDUSTRY

♦ RICE NOW A MAIN CROP { GROWER'S VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH A representative of Australia's newest industry—rice growing—is among the party of New South Wales farmers who visited Christchurch yesterday. He is Mr A. G. Kubank, of Griffith, in the Murrumbidgee irrigation area, and he was closely concerned with the establishment of the industry, and has since been connected intimately with its control. Beside rice, Mr Kubank grows wheat, barley, oats, 10 varieties of fruit, sheep and cows, and expects to find every moment of the New Zealand tour of interest in one of his farming capacities. Mr Kubank said last evening that the J ice growing industry had developed very rapidly. Growing dated from 1925, when 200 acres of the crop were planted following two years of experiment with a small quantity of seed imported from Canada. The yield Xiom these 200 acres was so satisfactory that in the next year 2000 acres were planted. In three years from the first planting, the Murrumbidgee area was able to supply the whole of the requirements of the Australian market, and has continued to do so successfully ever since. Chinese Prejudice. At first there was no tariff on imported cleaned rice, and only a mail one on uncleaned rice. The board which controls the industry found that its greatest stumbling block was the prejudice the Chinese in Australia had against any but Chinese rice, and to overcome this prejudice, a tariff was applied for through the Tariff Board. In 1929 this duty was granted, but the industry used it merely as a on the Chinese population, and did not raise the price, which was in fact lowered. The quality of the rice produced was as good as any in the world. A small parcel was sent to the specialised London market, and in competition with the best of the world's short-grained rices from Spain and Italy, topped the market. To prove that this was no matter of chance, another shipment was sent with the same result. Having proved that they could produce an article as good as that of any part of the world, the growers felt that their application for a tariff was Justified, as they could produce enough for the Australian market. The rice industry is subjected to a very rigorous and effective control, which Mr Kubank described as the most effective control of any industry in Australia. The area in the Murrumbidgee irrigation section suitable for the growing of rice is limited, land as nearly flat as possible being required. Rice is grown under water, ana as the water necessary for the crop is under the rigid control of the Water Commission and Irrigation Board, a Government body, it is impossible for a grower to put a bigger area under rice than he has water for. Control of Growers Each settler in the area is allowed so much water every year, an amount not big enough to allow the cultivation of rice. Before each season, the Rice Control Board decides the number of acres to be put under rice, and applications are called from growers. « a,rea growers want is in excess of the area fixed by the board as enough, each applicant is given the right to grow an area restricted according to the size of the application made. There is no chance of a grower exceeding a fixed maximum, because he will not be given enough water to do so. The board is composed of five growers and two Government nominees, and everyone in the industry is perfectly satisfied with the conduct of the industry. Returns to the grower of rice have been fairly good, Mr Kubank said. The average yields are 80 or 90 bushels an acre, and the price is about 3s 6d to 4s a bushel. Water costs about 30s an acre, and labour is used extensively. The crop requires a long summer to mature, and is reaped with header harvesters. One crop in four years is considered an ideal rotation, with two crops of wheat between the rice crops.