SHORTAGE OF POLLARD

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 113, 6 February 1941, Page 9

SHORTAGE OF POLLARD

State Control Blamed POULTRY-KEEPERS’ PLIGHT

Unable to obtain supplies of pollard, many New Zealand poultrykeepers, it ‘is stated, may soon be forced drastically to reduce their flocks. Their predicament is made worse, in many cases, because flocks were recently enlarged in response to the Government’s appeal for increased production. The alternative feed, a stock meal imported from Australia, is, poultry-keepers say, unsuitable as well as too expensive. Cattle and pig-farmers are also affected by the shortage of pollard. Wellington merchants have had practically no pollard for three months. Over the last year, they say, they have been able to obtain less than 25 per cent, of their requirements. Today there is not a bag to be obtained in Wellington. Bran is also very scarce. For the shortage merchants blame Government control. If they had been left to operate free from State interference, there would be sufficient supplies today, they say. The position was outlined yesterday by the manager of a large Wellington firm. Till five years ago, he said, pollard and bran were handled by Distributors, Limited, an amalgamation of flourmillers. Then the Wheat Committee was formed under Government supervision. Normally up to 50 per cent, of the pollard required In New Zealand was imported from Australia. Eighteen months ago the committee

prohibited merchants from importing direct from Australia and became itself the sole importer. Six months later it withdrew the prohibition, but,

by the time merchants were able to get import licences, supplies were unobtainable; the condition of the Australian market had changed because of a drought and a decline in flour production. Then, about last October, the Australian Government impressed an export embargo on pollard, which was still in operation.

“During the six months that the committee was in sole control of importing it missed the bus,” said tlie merchant. “Australian pollard at that time was offering very cheaply, and the committee should have laid in supplies, as merchants would have done had they been left free. Before Government control and import restriction were introduced, merchants carried sufficient quantities to see them over any period of shortage.”

Even if there were no export embargo, merchants would be unable to handle Australian pollard. In order to sell it at the rate fixed by the Price Tribunal, which allowed them to make a profit of 7/6 a ton, they could not pay more than £6 a ton, f.0.b., in Australia. The domestic price there was £6, but that would be increased to £6/7/6, f.o.b. Discussing the shortage of the New Zealand product, the merchant said that pollard was a by-product of the manufacture of flour, and New Zealand was producing as much flour as in the past, if not a little more. The Wheat Committee said that the pollard was not being retained In greater quantities in the South Island. Perhaps the present acute shortage might be explained in some measure by the fact that many mills were now having their annual overhaul. Then, again, increased production of wholemeal flour would absorb more pollard and bran.

Probably the chief factor, however, was the cumulative effect of increased demand over several years, resulting from expanding production on pig and poultry-farms. As a substitute for pollard the Wheat Committee was supplying a stock meal, imported from Australia. Its cash price in Wellington was £lO 9/5; the cash price of New Zealand pollard, when available, was £6/15/-, and of Australian pollard, £B/10/-.

The stock meal was made from under-grade wheat, badly ground up, and poultry-keepers were up in arms at being asked to use it. They said that they could not make a mash out of it without mixing it with bran; and bran was also scarce, not 60 per cent, of requirements being obtainable. They also stated that a change from one kind of feed to another caused fowls to moult and cease laying. The Government had stated that it wanted to give employment to its own people. It could have Imported the wheat and had it crushed in New Zealand, but instead had chosen to import the meal.

About a year ago the Wheat Committee had instructed merchants, who acted as its agents, to supply pollard only to registered poultry-keepers; they were to deliver none to storekeepers or cattle or pig-farmers. Actually there was not enough for poultrykeepers. , Pig-farmers found pollard the cheapest satisfactory feed and it was also required for cattle, but there had been none available for these purposes for nearly a year. As a result of the shortage of suitable fowl feed,, said the merchant, egg production was threatened, and, unless something were done soon, would seriously decline.