THE PRICE OF WHEAT.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16152, 5 March 1918, Page 5

THE PRICE OF WHEAT.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir,—We are told that tho question of wheat-growing next year is occupying tho attention of the Cabinet, but tho farmer, wiio is chiefly concerned, has not so far publicly voiced his opinion on the subject. Ho is not so reticent amongst friends, and it will be found that tho larger growers who axe dependent upon outsido aid to sow and. reap the crop, feel that the Government has not rendered tho assistance they were led to expect at harvest time. As our wheat prices were fixed comparatively low, in relation to cost of production, it was naturally expected that tile Government would exercisethe 6ame control over_ cost of sowing and reaping as over selling price, as has been done in the Home Country, whore the Government released the military in training, but the farmer here was left to forage for himself and struggle through as best he could. Teamsters were almost unprocurable, even at 15s and over per day, wet or dry, and with inexperienced hands, it was costing as much as 10s per acre to stook the sheaves, instead of Is to 2s. _ Unless the yield is a bumper one, this means growing grain at a loss, apart from the heavy cost of regrassing the land, and no wonder farmers are fighting shy of grain-growing under present conditions. There reems no valid reason why tfie farmer should grow tho grain at a loss, and it doe 3 seem odd, when the cost of production is so much greater hero than at Home, whore tho authorised prico is 9s per bushel, that ours should only be 5s lOd, when wages here are mor4 than double tho rates current at Home. The cost of food should surely bear some relation to tho wage earned, but, unfortunately, for this Dominion, tho two are out of gear here, and one

or other must be largely increased or reduced if grain aaid potato growing is to bo continued in New Zealand. 1 have hoard of crops this year which would not pay expenses if the price were t)s per bushel. The Homo price of 9s per biibhel for wheat, and £(5 10s per ton for potatoes is not too much when cost of production here is considered. — Yours, etc., FARMER.