IMPORT OF CORN SACKS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28493, 24 January 1958, Page 13

IMPORT OF CORN SACKS

Farmers Discuss Reduction

The reduction of importation of corn sacks to 75 per cent of 19M levels was "just plain stupid” under Import selection! spld the president (Mr J. F. G. Blakely) at a meeting of the North Canter, bury provincial executive of Fed. erated Farmers. "We are told on the one hand that we must have increased production and that wheat is wanted yet they are going to reduce imports of corn sacks to 75 per cent of 1956,” said Mr Blakely. “The year 1956 was one of our lowest yields. What are we going to do when we grow the wheat?” A delegate: Don’t grow it. Another delegate said that the reduction of imports of medicines and penicillin, which were not made in New Zealand, would affect the dairy industry. There was a possibility of a switch to growing wheat, said Mr G. E. Oldman. Farmers had to have sacks, said Mr J. E. Streeter. The executive decided to refer the matter to the agricultural section. It could be that there was a surplus of sacks in the country, as seed production had decreased this season, said Mr M. H. Johnson. The president: There can’t be a big surplus. There must be a tremendous waste in sacks, said Mr W. E. Miller.