NORTH ISLAND BARLEY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 136, 5 March 1941, Page 8

NORTH ISLAND BARLEY

Minimum Price Guaranteed NEXT YEAR’S HARVEST A guarantee of a minimum price of 3/9 a bushel for cape barley harvested in the North Island during the 1942 season was announced last evening by the Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, Air, Barclay, who said that this price would be paid by the Internal Marketing Department. “The price will be on the basis of sacks in f.o.r. country stations,” said the Minister. "1 have decided to make the decision known at this early date, so that every opportunity will be afforded farmers in suitable districts to make their cropping arrangements in advance and thus entire that the maximum area is sown. Several conflicting considerations had to be taken into account in coming to a decision. The price must be sufficiently high to ensure a reasonable return to the grower, but not so high that the grain is uneconomic to those farmers who will use it for pig feeding. I regard a minimum price of 3/9 a bushel as a satisfactory compromise in view of the various considerations involved. This decision is in line with the recommendation of the National Council of Primary Production, which discussed the matter fully with the Director of Internal Alarketing. “It must be understood that the price has been fixed as a minimum. It is envisaged that the Alarketing Department will operate in 1942 with regard to North Island-grown barley only if the market price is likely to be less than 3/9 a bushel to the grower. In certain districts, farmers may prefer to grow Chevalier type barley or skinless barley. With the above price guaranteed for Cape barley, it is to be expected that slightly higher prices will rule for other varieties."