EXPORT OF OATS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2553, 30 August 1915, Page 7

EXPORT OF OATS

PROHIBITION TO BE RELAXED Tile Government lias decided to permit the export of oats, but the Order-in- • Council,; prohibiting export except with the consent of tho Minister -of Customs, has not been revoked.; Application for to export must still be made to the Minister, but whereas in late months these have been'invariably refused, unless the oats were shipped to the Commonwealth Defence authorities, '•■the Minister is now prepared-to allow limited export, at least for a, period. Months ago it was discovered from : statistics. collccW that there was not in the country a, sufficient quantity of oats .to supply normal requirements uitiL'next harvest, and the export was accordingly prohibited. But .the high price which, this i corn has reached in the market has materially reduced consumption, and it is not now nearly so certain ■that there will be a , shortage/ as there •undoubtedly would have been had consumption continued at the normal rate. rtVitnVthe advent of spring, consumption must >bo still further reduced; and very insistent pressure has been brought to ibear on the; Government from oat-grow-ing districts to allow the export to be resumed. - It happens ihat most of the oats grown in'the Dominion are grown in Otago.and Southland'. In these disand more especially in Southland, there is a big surplus; elsewhere no oats 'wo, held. The stoppage of export has ■made merchants disinclined' to trade in . oats,-and farmers cannot sell their stocks. They fear that unless they are allowed to sell soon they may not be .'able to sell at' all, : and they may be •'faced with serious loss. Her© is a demand for oats in;the North Island, 3but apparently it is not strong: enough Tat present rates, to consume the stocks iat present held in'-the south'. In Australia the_ demand is said to bo prac(ticaU,y unlimited.