§ 40. Mr. Russellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that there is a large surplus of maize in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland; and what steps he proposes to take to persuade importers to buy more 29 maize from the Federation and less from the United States of America and the Argentine Republic.
§ Mr. GodberThe import of maize is a matter for private importers. They have greatly increased their purchases from the Federation and there is no reason to think they will not buy more as shipments can be arranged.
§ Mr. RussellIs my hon. Friend aware that last year we spent £26 million on buying maize from the United States and £4 million on buying maize from the Argentine, with both of which countries we have an unfavourable balance of trade? Is it not wrong to spend money in dollar countries when there is maize from the Federation for which a market is required?
§ Mr. GodberThere is a slight difference in the qualities of the maize, but the greatest difficulty in increasing the supply from the Federation is that created by the lack of shipping, which is definitely a limiting factor. This year, until the end of May, no maize has been imported from the Argentine, whereas imports from Rhodesia and Nyasaland are already considerably up on the total last year.