RICE CROP

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1929, Page 2

RICE CROP

: SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA. SURPLUS FOR EXPORT. SYDNEiY, Nov. 21. Remarkable (success has attended tlie efforts to grow rice in Australia. The average consumption of rice within the Commonwealth over the last live years lias been 17,000 tons annually, and long before the people bad realised the extent of the industry—it would be safe to say that thousands diil not know of its existence—it was announced the other day that tne Australian crop was equal to the demand. More than that, there was a surplus for export. Tt is even stated that over-production should not present any undue difficulties, as there is a ready market for rice in the East as well as in England and Germany. So Australia has another means of finding to its wealth if it is ready to seize the opportunity thus prcsonteiT. The probability of being aide to supply New Zealand with all its rice requirements has been discussed, and it is considered that there should be no difficulties on that score. There are still scores of people who regret the lack of trade reciprocation between New Zealand and the Commonwealth, and the new

Labour Government is "being widely urged to explore more fully the possibilities in that direction. In Australia the cultivation of rice ms been, carried on tentatively for iome years. A Japanese on the banks if the Murray river has been growing ■ice lor a long time, but not on a commercial scale. However, lie was able to prove conclusively that rice could be grown in this country, and now the success attending the ricegroers in the Murrumhidgee irrigation area has amply proved that rice can be grown profitably on a commercial scale in the Commonwealah. Rice inltivation on an experimental scale was carried on at Yanco for some years. There it was found that the large area of heavy clay bottom would make an excellent paddy lield, and in 1024-2.1 an attempt was made to grow rice on a c immercial scale. In that year 1.515 acres were cropped lor a yield of 10.249 bushels. Consignments of the “paddy” rice were sent to Sydney and Melbourne for the treatment which is necessary before it can be marketed, and the results showed that the quality was much superior to that of the imported article. In the following year 1550 acres yielded 01.000 bushels of rice. This was an average of more than 30 bushels to the acre—a heavy crop. In 1020-27 the area under cultivation was increased to nearly 4000 acres, from which 217.740 bushels were reaped. for an average of more than 54 bushels to the acre. The final figures for the year 1028-29 are not yet availaide, hut it is estimated that 12,000

acres were harvested for 960,C00 bushels of rice. The value of this year’s crop will be about £200,000. The demand in Australia*is for greater production. The rice growers seem to be showing the way.