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THE WHEAT CRISIS

WILL NORTH HELP SOUTH ? THREAT OF SEPARATE ACTION. Discussion on the wheat crisis at yesterday's meeting of the North Canterbury Executive, of the Farmers' Union evoked suggestion? that if the Provincial ' Executive at its meeting in 'Wellington to-day —at which a'millers' deputation intends to explain its attitude to the. farmers—does not support the growers' claim of 7s per bushel for last season 's crop, action independent of the Union would be taken to secure recognition for the growers. Following upon the conference held at Ashburton last week, when the millers' refusal, in view of the importation of Australian flour, to pav the nrice demanded by the growers was discussed by delegates from all of the South Mand wheat-growing areas, the following resolution, which, in addition to a resolution favouring the imposition of a dumping duty on Australian flour, had been carried by the Conference, was before the meeting for the purpose of selecting three delegates to'confer with the members of the expiring Wheat Board:—

"That the Wheat Board be instructed to proceed with a postal ballot for the election of a committee by wheat-grow-ers who have participated in the whealmarketing schemes of 1923 and 1924, such a committee to have authority, if it thinks fit, to constitute itself a marketing association or, board."

Wheat Board's Position. The chairman (Mr J. D. Hal!) reviewed the discussion at the conference, and stated that he did not propose to discuss tho matter of the Wheat Board much further —he took it that they would accept the resolution, and the first step would be to proceed with the election of three representatives for North Canterbury. Speaking of the Wheat Board, the chairman added that there had been some varied discussion at Ashburton, but he wished to emphasise that the representation which North Canterbury had had on the« Wheat Board had proved quite satisfactory. However, there were three instead of two representatives needed, and when the time came he would move that two of the representatives be Messrs W. W. Mulholland and R. T. McMillan. 1 Mr Mulholland said that the Union would not be advised to re-appoint himself and Mr McMillan—they, were already members of the Wheat 'Board. The Union should not sacrifice its representation in view of' that fact. "But I thought you were dead!" remarked the chairman, referring to the Board. "Yes, but the dead body is acting as a link, and so is more or less alive,'' answered Mr Mulholland. •After further discussion, mostly' in explanation of the Wheat Board's position and the attitude of the Ashburton conference, the chairman and-Messrs E. Wells and A. I). Carpenter were selected. ' ' .

Chairman Outlines his Attitude-. As the presence of the millers at the meeting of tho Provincial Executive, at which lie is one of.tho North Canterbury delegates, would . raise the whole question.of the wheat position, the chairman said that he desired an expression of opinion. He mentioned the circumstances that had led to the decision of the Dominion Executive to hear the millers, who, he said, had approached the Dominion president anß the Dominion secretary to arrange an interview. It had been thought "wise-and polite" to invito them. The poultry-keepers, as an affiliated organisation, would be represented in the ordinary way. Dairy far-" mers, interested in the matter as- largo consumers of bran and pollard, had also been invited to attend. Different gentlemen in the South Island had been selected at the Wheat Conference to interview the and had also been invited to attend the discussion at the Dominion Executive's meeting. A suggestion had been made, continued Mr Hall, that sueh a conference with tho millers, if agreed to at all, should take place in the South Island, where tho wheat was grown. He did not altogether agree with that, but appreciated the fact that different interests would.be taking part in the discussion of the millers' standpoint, and it was possiblo that the other interests would have a majority over the growers. Past experience had shown that in such | discussion a split had occurred. It was essential, as wheat-growers were part of the Union, that they should receive consideration and support, and if they did not get it, they would have to get it themselves. They would have to do that if they were driven to sueh a course and could not get consideration as part of the Farmers' Union. The position ho adopted was that if the growers were not; going to be assisted to get the price of'7s, as asked by them all along, he would "hand in his papers" and fight for a marketing association.

"Loyalty Not Involved." .'f.There •is no question of loyalty to the Union involved," Mr Hall added. "It is a question of whethor the Union can' help us, and' if not we will have to. do it ourselves!" Mr Wagner stated that the attitude of the growers was being watched, and he was satisfied that the Union was going back in view of the attitude of the North Island farmers, especially in Auckland, towards the wheatgrowers. Future canvassing for members in Canterbury would be seriously affected as a result. Mr A.M." Carpenter said that the wheat-growers, he believed, had every confidence in the attitude the. chairman had outlined. Mr Hall had taken a great- interest in ■■■■ the' question, and in other contingencies had found the best way out. Wheat-growers did not want to be in the position of the barleygrowers with the brewers. ■ Mr E. Wells declared that it was time the South Island had a. share of what the North Island had been getting. The small farmer was going out of date in the South. He felt that the farmers would all be behind Mr Hall in the attitude he adopted. A Conciliatory Note. Mr Mulholland, another of the exeeu- j tive's delegates, said that the talk of disruption was regrettable, and it was unfortunate that there had been suggestions of separation between the North and South Islands. The farmers' interests lay on the same lines, and it was to be hoped that they would not fail to realise that fact. * He trusted that some conciliatory means of settling the position would be adopted. The wheat-growers could not demand what they wanted for the wheat, they could not even demand what it coat them to grow it. Some of those who had taken up an attitude which the growers considered to be against their interests, had done so in following out a theory of Free Trade. This attitude was unfortunate and illogical, as it brought a particular industry under Free Trade while all other industries were protected. The free trade protagonists had gained sympathy because they had enlisted users of by-products into the belief that the system would make the by-products cheaper. He thought it

(Continued at foot of next column,)

would be'possible in a candid talk with users of,' say, bran and pollard, to convince them that they could not get these products cheaper unless wheaterowing was put on a payable basis. He was going to Wellington m an attempt to arrive at a mutual basis for the retention of their unity. While it was unfortunate, he did not deny that there did exist some antipathy between the North and South Islands, especially following the attitude of the North Island farmers on the question of wheat. He wanted to save the Union if possible. It would be a terrible mistake if the Union was destroyed, and easily one of the most retrogressive steps they could take, especially in view of the political situation that was gradually developing.Mr E. Tv McMillan also held that the executive would .make a great mistake with too great an intention to force its opinion too drastically. "I never suggested that I was going to split the Union!" interjected the chairman. "I'm certainly going to stand up for the wheat-growers, and if I can't get support from the Union, I will attempt to get a marketing association!"

Mr Mulholland: I thought you wanted to burst up. the Union!" "How could I burst up the Union!" replied Mr Hay. I'm, sorry if I conveyed a wrong impression. That was not what I meant! , Mr- McMillan said that a marketing association was the thing most needed by the wheat-growers. It was not a matter, he felt, in whieh the Farmers' Union should take a part. The millers wanted to get the lowest price possible, and would fight towards that end. The Dairy Control Board and the Meat Board were progressing quite well, and without any friction, and there was no reason why there should be any difference with "the existence of a wheat organisation. Mr \V. IX Banks said that the chairman's best argument against the poul-try-keepers who would bo talking at the meeting to-day was that they needed two million bushels of wheat, and they could get it cheaper from the New Zealand grower than.the Australian. The New Zealand grower was the poultryman's best friend. Dairymen and Poultry-keepers.

Mr G, W. Leadley expressed the opinion that they .would be unwise to talk about the position of the Union with the Press present. Members: You're a bit late!

Mr Leadley added that he hoped they would come to some mutually advantageous solution. • If they would not, he hoped the dairymen and the poultrymen at. the meeting would '' kindly leave the matter alone." It was mainly a South Island qnestion, and he did not think there would be a split. Mr MeMillan asked the chairman if he. thought a resolution would strengthen his position. "It all depends what it is," answered Mr Hall, amidst laughter. He added that he did not think any resolution was really necessary.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19250423.2.75

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18364, 23 April 1925, Page 10

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,617

THE WHEAT CRISIS Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18364, 23 April 1925, Page 10

THE WHEAT CRISIS Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18364, 23 April 1925, Page 10

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