MAIZE FROM AFRICA

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12422, 16 April 1926, Page 8

MAIZE FROM AFRICA

TRICE INFLUENCED BY DUTY. The steamer Tugela arrived fronfl South Africa yesterday with a cargo of maize, of which 1000 tons is for Auckland and 800 toDs for Wellington. Some importers, it is stated, aro feeling that the Government has not handled the maize supply question with fairness to the consumer. Under the vo* ciprocal agreement with South Africa, maize from tliat source bore a duty of fid per cental or 1001b t but when that agreement terminated the duty waa raised to 2s per cental in order to help tbe maize-growing industry of Poverty Bay. It did, for synchronising with the new duty was an increase in the price of maize by quick stages, from 54 to 7s per bushel.. But for all that, maize-growing in New Zealand has not for years been sufficient for the country requirements, and the high cost of importing from Australia and South Africaj (through Australia) has had to be incurred. If sufficient maize were grown ta render New Zealand independent of supplies from overseas, the expense of ocean freights and other charges incidental ta these imports would be saved, so would the duty of 2s per cental, or say, Is lja per bushel. There are 72,000 bushels of maizf aboard the Tugela for Auckland ana Wellington, and this at Is lid per bushel represents £3750 in duty, to say nothing of the payment for the maize outride the Dominion, and the exchange, entrance, and deep sea freights. Tf suft ficient maize could be raised in the Do. minion these expenses could be saved and economics effected. The maize it largely used by poultry farmers, fer whom for the time being wheat is being imported free of duty. Whatever the cause, merchants agree that production of maize in New Zealand is far belov the increasing consumption.