Difficulties of the Wheat Grower.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 6

Difficulties of the Wheat Grower.

In our Commercial columns to-day we print some facts concerning the wheat situation, which is causing difficulty to a considerable number of farmers. They .have finished threshing, and they ure anxious to obtain the cash for their grain, but they find difficulty in disposing of it. They have been guaranteed from 7s 6d to 8s for their wheat, bub there, was no guarantee that this price would be paid to them by any date. It was expected that the addition of threefarthings a month, after May Ist, to the guaranteed price would lead the buyers to take the grain, and it is possible that this is What will happen. But there is a widespread feeling that the present financial and economic conditions will result in the buying of the grain in quantities only sufficient for current needs. Many of the farmers are urgently in need of the cash, particularly on account of the fall in the values of wool and meat, .and it is even supposed that failure to dispose of their wheat at an early flats tfW hamperthe farmers in their preparations for next season's growing. The Government ought to be in a position to ascertain the exact facts, and if they are .:i& stated, it should consider the problem of financing the farmers. At present the farmers find it difficult or impossible to secure advances against their wheat from the usual sources, and if .they-were to ask the Government to makesjsome arrangement that Would assist them they would not be asking anything unreasonable, and they would not be asking the Government to make them a present at anybody's expense. In the Finance Act of last year the Government is empowered to guarantee any advances made by banks to producers of wool, meat, dairy-produce, or other primary products, presumably including wheat. Having assumed the responsibility of guaranteeing a mini, mum price for wheat, the Government, if not morally bound under the principlo of section 23 of the Finance Act, 1920, is at least required, by the necessity for making its guarantee real and practical, to take some steps to secure wheatgrowers against the hardship, of having to stand out of their wheat-money indefinitely. There are some objections to a policy of Government advances against wheat, although, these objections are not very serious, but there are no serious objections to the Government's purchase of the wheat. In any case tho importance of enabling the farmers to turn their wheat into cash with as little delay as possible seems to require chat the Government shall take some action in the matter.