NOT ENOUGH WHEAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1026, 17 July 1930, Page 12

NOT ENOUGH WHEAT

MILLION BUSHEL DEFICIT

NEXT SEASON’S OUTLOOK

The opinion that the increase in duty >n wheat in 1927 with the object of fostering the industry had actually resulted in the trade being depressed was expressed freely at the meeting of the Council of the Auckland Chamber

•»f Commerce this morning. A report received from a. committee set up to investigate the position was referred back for further consideration.

Large areas of the Dominion which had been under wheat had fallen back into grazing lands, and the output had decreased so greatly that the Dominion would have to face a deficit of about a million bushels next season, according to Mr. A. G. Lunn. The Government had put the duty on as a protective measure in spite of the opposition of the Chamber-, and was now so ‘ hard up” that it could not afford to take the duty off. Mr. Lunn thought it desirable that the price should be brought back from 6s 9d a bushel to the world parity of 4s a bushel

The position is the same as regards maize, Mr. W. A. Boucher pointed out. With the imposition of a higher dut\ the output of 500,000 bushels in 1927 had fallen to 300,000 last year.

A report on the maize industry was received from a committee set up to investigate questions presented by the Bay of Plenty growers. Auckland merchants had been unanimous in stating that the variety of maize grown was too large for the requirements of poultry-raisers. The practice of the Bay of Plenty growers in marketing their maize before it was mature did not allow it to compare favourably with importations, and too high a price was being asked in comparison with its value. There was a better demand for South African grain, which gave a better result. The local supplies. too, were not sufficient to meet requirements. The report was received and wiU be referred on to the growers.