MAIZE MARKETING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20547, 6 May 1941, Page 8

MAIZE MARKETING

CONFERENCE PENDING GROWERS’ DEEP CONCERN MERCHANTS- interest A statement that a conference is to be held in Rotorua this week between representatives of the Internal Mirketine Department and merchnn J • handling maize products' caused ' postponement of a discussion at t'v annual meeting of the Ciborn-Maize-growers' Association, held las' evening. It was, stated that this conference might remove the presenl danger of priority in the New Zealand market being given to growers in another district.

Tile interest taken by the district growers v;as shown by the fact that Ihe attendance was larger than at any previous meeting. Ail present, hail heard with concern that the Internal Marketing Department was reported to have reproached Auckland distil bufoi's with a suggestion that they should take fixed quantities of Bay of Plenty maize throughout the market.ng season, in order to dispose of largo additional production there r.n farms controlled by another Government department. The effect of this arrangement, if it came into effect, would be to give priority to Bay of Plenty maize, leaving Gisborne maiz.o lo do the best it could in what was left of the market. Forestalling Injury (o Growers Merchants in Gisborne a:so showed sympathy with the concern of the growers, and a deputation consisting of Messrs. J. G. McGregor and G.' W. Armstrong attended the meeting. They brought news of the conference, however. and undertook to see that the interests of Gisborne growers wore placed before the members of the conference, with a view to forestalling any action which would prejudice the growers hero.

One factor to which a good do;:] of weight was' given was the disposal of surplus maize, representing the plantaia.; and croppings over and above last year's acreage. It was stated th: Gisborne would hove a total of aboi aO.OOO bags of maize this year. aga.nst .la.DO!) bags last year, tiie in crease in this district alone bein more than the estimated importation of the Interna! Marketing Board. One speaker, discussing marketin' raised the matter of the retail prig: He pointed out that the policy of th di.-li'icL growers was to take a J'ai wholesale rate, and thus ensure tha consumers should receive supplies ah: at an economic price. He had hear reports, however, tint maize wa being sold at as high as 8s per bushe I’ricc Assurance Accepted Merchants' representatives presen offered 1o prove, by reference to the', books, that, their firms nad not .soli maize at prices beyond Gs lid pc bushel. ;n bushel lots, with specific) reductions for larger orders. Thai assurance was accepted by th meeting. Another grower pointed out tha over-production of maize would cer fainfy blight the market, and In suggested that a portion of the lam cropped in Hubs district should in turned over to an export crop si.ic'r as beans. He asked the merchants representatives whether there v. er< any prospects of a change-over tc bean production. The meeting was informed, however, that the bean crops taken thi; b'esr in Gisborne had been sown anc cultivated under contract, and that any wider cultivation might have tc face an uncertain market. Tributes were paid by the meeting to Hie assistance rendered to the growers by merchants’ representatives, and the delegates from Gisborne thanked the assembled growers for the co-operation given during the past year in the handling of the crop. Officers For Ensuing Year The business of the annual meeting was disposed of without much di-atis-sion. Mr. C. F. Tietjen presiding, and the report and balance sheet being adopted unanimously on his motion. The committee appointed for the ensuing year comprised Messrs. N. G. Bolitho, F. Brian!. K. Cameron, R. Campbell. C. Cooper. J. B. Greig. F. Lange. M. McCullough, i. Newman. G. Pnpworth, A. Paulson, 11. Rickards C. F. Tietjen. H. M. White and| T. Witters. Mr. Tietjen was re-elected ghairman of tha committee, and with Messrs. Cooper, Campbell. Cameron and Witters, was empowered to act as an executive in the event of necessity.

Mr. ,1. B. Grcig, who has filled the post of hon. secretary to the association since its inception, refused to accept re-nomination for that office, and it was decided to secure the services of a part-time secretarial officer. Mr. Grcig was warmly thanked for his services to the association. A vote of thanks was tendered to the press. The meeting raised the annual subscription to the association to 10s. from the former figure of ss.