N.Z. TO EXPORT GRAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26848, 29 September 1952, Page 6

N.Z. TO EXPORT GRAIN

BARLEY~AND OATS SURPLUS

SUBSIDISED WHEAT FED TO FOWLS

(By Our Commercial Editor.) Permits are being granted by the Government for the export of surplus barley and oats held by New Zealand grain merchants. Merchants will be permitted to export these cereals, until January 31, 1863, in quantities according, to their surpluses as shown in returns requested by the Department of Agriculture last month. The surplus of barley was mainly caused by the wharf dispute last year, when South Island merchants were unable to export their usual quantities to the North Island. Merchants ascribe the oat surplus to heavy Imports last y 8& figures of the amounts Of each grain which are to be exported are available, but the merchants’ to the department are believed to indicate a substantial surplus. One Christchurch merchant said he would have been able to fill orders for barley well into next season with the stocks held by his firm. Japanese firms have been trying to buy Now Zealand barley for some time. The New Zealand Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants* federation has made efforts to divert some of the surplus grain to poultrykeepers. As a result the proportion of barley in the standard mash has recently been increased; but it 18 claimed that egg production would not be seriously affected it more barley were fed to fowls instead of wheat According to one authority in Christchurch, such a subtitution could save at least 1,000.000 bubhelß of wheat a year. Fowls eat approximately 4,000,000 bushels Of wheat a year, out of New Zealand’s annual requirements of some 12,000,000 bushels.

Wheat Imports As long aS New Zealand imports part of her wheat requirements (about twothirds are imported at present), merchants argue, every bushel of wheat eaten by fowls requires the import Of one bushel Of Wheat. By feeding some of the surplus grain to fowls an equivalent amount or wheat would be diverted to other purposes—mainly milling—and the country Would be saved the expense of importing an equivalent amount of grain. Merchants expect to get between 10s and Ils a bushel (sacks extra) for the barley they export up to January 31 next year. New Zealand paid Australia between life id and 21s 8d (Australian currency) for wheat last season; the average landed cost of this wheat has been calculated at about 17s New Zealand currency. Practically ail wheat; fed to fowls in the North bland is imported. To avoid the necessity for two sets Of retail wheat prices the Government subsidises the imported wheat, losing at least 5b Bd a bußheL on the average. Price is a big factor in determining the proportions of different grains fed to their’ fowls by many poultry keep* fers. Present retail prices of the grains most favoured for fowl feed (in Christ* church, sacks extra) average Ils ?d a bushel for wheat, 10s 6d for barley and 9s Bd for Gartohg (white) oats. Prices for grains vary throughout New Zealand, according to distance from the main growing areas, but the margins between them are approximately the same everywhere.

“Craiy Position*’ “The Present position is crazy; we are feeding several million bushels of this dearer wheat to fowls at subsidised prices, and at the same time we ate exporting cheaper grain, much of which could be used to feed the fowls.” This was the comment of one merchant.

Another possible effect of the export of batley is h lower Wheat acreage than might otherwise be attained The uncertainty of finding a market for their barley—in the event of the Government’s refusing to permit the export Of future persuade farmers to grow mote wheat, for which there is an Assured market and

a guaranteed price. The experience of recent years indicates that this year’s surplus of barley and oats jg at least a possibility in the future. The Government is reliably reported to be drawing Up a policy to meet any future surpluses.

Thirty-two Africans Drowned.— Thirty-two Africans were drowned when a tornado capsized a boat-on the river Bani, a tributary of the Niger, according to reports reaching Dakar today. The boat Waß carrying 81 per* sons—Dakar (French West Attica), September 27.