BRAN AND POLLARD

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1680, 31 October 1925, Page 3

BRAN AND POLLARD

SUPPLY FOR FARMERS.

“That farmers have the prior right to be supplied with bran and pollard, instead of bakers as at present,” was one of the remits passed at the recent Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. This resolution was forwarded to the chairman of directors of the South Island Millers’ Association for his comments, which are as follow: —

“During the past few years there has been an increasing tendency on the part of bakers to purchase bran and pollard, but on my own knowledge I can say they are largely prompted thereto by consumers who appear to think it is an extra avenue through which they can secure their requirements. So far as we can, we endeavour to discourage the practice, but we cannot make a rule to eliminate the baker, because in many cases (and particularly in country districts) bakers and also storekeepers, and consequently the recognised distributors of many commodities. They are entitled to some reward for their services, and any- so-called ‘prior right’ is only applicable in such cases. There is one difficulty about supplying to farmers generally, and that is the question of payment, the great majority of their accounts running from harvest to harvest (sometimes to the second harvest) whereas storekeepers have to observe the usual terms. Notwithstanding this, I believe the country mills ,here are serving, the faAners fairly well, 'because at times we have difficulty in obtaining their proportionate quantities for shipment, and this failure has to be met by the town mills.” “Under these circumstances,” he adds, “I imagine the resolution applies more particularly to the North Island, and as it is impossible for us to deal direct vsjith farmers there, the only thing I can suggest is that if the New Zealand Farmers’ Union is prepared to make purchases themselves for distribution to their members we will do our best to meet their requirements according to the quantity available, but from recent investigation it will be about two months yet before New Zealand mills can supply requirements based on las,t year’s figures.”