The Department of Agricultuee during the War. 553 



quantity being exported to Europe, due solely to war conditions. A 

 few thousand tons of lueeme-hay were exported for account of the 

 Imperial military authorities, and on the whole satisfactory reports 

 were received as to the quality. The division undertook the inspec- 

 tion of the lucerne before shipment, and of the total quantity pre- 

 sented for export 149 tons were rejected by the inspector. The annual 

 maize conference, at which merchants, producers, the TJnion-Castle 

 Shipping" Company, and the Government are represented, was held 

 regularly each year and much benefit derived therefrom. Owing to 

 the war the Union-Co stle Company renounced its agreement with the 

 Government to convey maize to Europe at 10s. per ton, and fixed the 

 freight rate at 30s., which was subsequently raised to 52s. 6d. A 

 drop at that time in the market price in England for the cereal meant 

 small returns for the farmer, and the position was aggravated by lack 

 of sufficient accommodation on steamers to dispose of our surplus, a 

 matter which received the earnest attention of the Government. 



The 1915 maize crop was the largest on record, being estimated 

 at 10,250,000 bags, and the quantity exported was approximately 

 2,484,000 bags. Australia was a very big buyer, takinfr no less than 

 632,190 bags, most of the balance going to the TTnited Kingdom. In 

 addition, the division passed for export during 1915-16 3066 bags of 

 barley, 85.466 bags of Kaffir corn (the latter for the first time in 

 quantity), 50 bags of lucerne seed to Australia (the first shipment of 

 this seed that had left the Union), 32,358 bags of oats (a reduction on 

 the previous year's shipments owing to additional consumption in the 

 Union for military purposes), and 229 bags of millet. The quality 

 of the maize exported during the season was excellent and very little 

 was rejected for unsoundness or other reasons. No complaints were 

 received of the grading, which appeared to have given complete satis- 

 faction. A large number of standard samples of maize and Kaffir 

 corn was sent out by the division. The question of freight" greatly 

 exercised the Government, and active steps were taken to secure cargo 

 space for our maize. The rate of freight was clianged during the 

 year, being fixed at 63s. on the 1st January, 1916, a favourable one 

 compared with the rates paid by Argentine shippers. 



The produce passed for export by the division during the year 

 1916-17 was 1,334,608 bacs of maize. 11,871 bags of hominy chop, 

 772 bags of maize meal. 1842 bags of barley, and 5084 bags of Kaffir 

 corn. There was a falling off in quantity as compared with that 

 shipped the previous year owing to an unfavourable crop 

 season. The quality and condition of the maize was good. The 

 grading continued to give satisfaction both in this country and 

 abroad. In the United Kingdom our maize has o<ot an excellent 

 name, the grader's certificates being said to be so reliable as to be as 

 negotiable as bank notes. As a consequence of this excellent result 

 very little grain or seed of any kind was exported without reference 

 to the division, and many requests were made that the system of 

 crrading should be applied to the home as well as the export trade. 

 The export grades for maize and Kaffir corn fixed in 1915 were main- 

 tained, and large numbers of samples were made up and distributed. 



The maize crop reaped in 1917 was the largest yet grown, and 

 during the year 1917-18 4,314,694 bags of maize and its products were 

 exported. The quantity, moreover, would have been greater but for 

 heavy rains which carried on into the ripening and ham'esting period 



