THE BARLEY MARKET.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16729, 12 January 1920, Page 6

THE BARLEY MARKET.

MOVE TOR 8s PER BUSHEL.

(SrECIAIi TO "TOE TRE3S.")

BLENHEIM, January 10. Tho following telegram from Mr D. Jones, M.P., president of tho North CnntAbuiy Farmers' Union, was read at tho monthly mooting of tho Marlborough executive to-day. "Is Blenheim doing-anything to fix the price of barley ? What aro tho prospocts of your crops? Canterbury crops about average. ould bo glad to co-operato in any action. Barloy should bo worth Ss.

Tlio matter was discussed at considerable length, and full willingness expressed to co-operate with Canterbury as far as was possible. It was stated that the Marlborough barley crops this season wero much below tho average as regarded both tho acrcago and tho yield per acre. Tho assertion was mado that tho extent of tho

sowing W as not more than half what it was in previous years. It was pointed out that the position, so far as cooperation between the growers hero and in tin south was concerned, would bo affected by tho fact that a considerable quantity of barley was being raised in .Marlborough this voar under contract at the fixed price of 6s per bushel. J his is an arrangement similar to tho s>stem under which such large Quantities of peas are grown in MarlItnrougn for the merchants. Such was the position, it was remarked, in which tho local barley growers found themselves on account of tho vagaries of tho market in past years. However, thero was some margin that would aI»ow them to work in with the Canterbury growers, and the executive of tho Farmers' Union would readilv uso whatever influence it could brin" to boar in this direction. "

The secretary was instructed to reply to Mr Jones to tho above effect A member said ho had learned that a firm in Wenheim received recently a commission, with no price stipulated to buy 10,000 bushels of barley. Evil dentlv thcro was a hie demand. Incidentally a member said that having ■travelled Marlborough pretty extensively, he had seen only four 'fields of wheat this year. The executive resolved to offer Mr I). •Tones it« congratulations on his election to_ Parliament, as the member for Ivaiapoi.