SHORTAGE OF OATS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2416, 23 March 1915, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF OATS

EMBARGO ON EXPORTS • . ■ DISCUSSED BY SOUTHLAND FARMERS (By- Telegraph—Press iesooiatloa-l . . _ tnveroarglll, March 22. . "A meeting, convened by the Farmers' 'Union, discussed the Government's proposals to. prohibit the exportation of oats.and chaff. Mr. Wm. Forde, president, thought that , the question ivas of very great inj.terest to Southland. /fho main point '■was the alleged shortage of three uiil- , lion : bushels and how it had been arrived at. • He had been making inquiries and the opinion Generally expressed was that.the estimates were not correct. Many farmers had told liim they had • not,, been asked to furnish estimates; others said when, the request was made it was too early in the season to arrive at an accurate conclusion. . la a season like the present one had beenYoifßad been a most difficult matter to furnish a reliable estimate when the figures had been obtained by the ■Agricultural Department. If there was a shortage of three million bushels then •there was' no great grievance to ventilate. Mirny farmers stoutly maintained that in regard to t'ho figures credited to Southland they were not a fair estimate'., Most farmers had sown late in -the spring in response to tho appeal made by the Prime Minister, and those cropsjjr.n r . particular appeared at one time »to bo in a very bad state, but they, had:; since' made great progress,' and would turn out 50 per. cent, better than'.was;at one time expected of them. V Mr. AV. S. Fleming said the Government: would have a pretty good idea oi the acreage under crop and the usual returns would come very near,to the mark. He was quite sure there were loss oats in Southland tlian usual and there was very little old oats in the country. Last year no oats were exported. The oat crop in the north had been' almost' a failure and he could quite understand that there was going to be a, shortage. Statements went round the country of oats averaging 80 bushels to the acre, but they, knew that averages were over-stated, for they all had a. weakness of making the best of things. - ; The chairman: Is 25 bushels to tfhe 'acre a fair estimate? Mr. Fleming: No; that is an underestimate. ■; , Mr. Patterson: If the estimate was Idouble that it would be about right. Mr. John M'Queen said they could not grow grain here if their outlet was closed. If the Government was goiiig to interfere with the farmers' business ihe farmers would give up grain-growing and try something else. •"Why not leave the farmer alone in order that he might recoup the losses made in former years? If the farmers were not to be allowed to proceed on business lines and to deal in the market in which they could get the biggest price then he for:one would not grow cats."

Another speaker said if the Government was prepared to give the farmer the same price for his oats as he would receive if he exported them, there would be no fault to.find.. ' •Mr. Fleming-said if Southland were prohibited from exporting, it would be a good thing for Southland. If the estimate ivas correct Southland should not be allowed to export. . A few months hence there would be a demand from the North Island, and farmers would be selling in a few months at a better price than was offering now. It would be unpractical to export, oats if there was a 'shortage,. and have; perhaps, to pay from'Bs. to 10s. per bushel to bring them back into the country. A speaker inquired if it would not be ■better to put' an export tax of. 3d, per bushel on oats which . would steady prices a bit.

After further discussion it was moved "that this meeting, representing a large number of farmers, recommends that tho Government fix the price of oats."

' Ihe Board of Agriculture should do ;the samo as they had done with meat. .Jhe Government should buy the oats and do what- they liked with them. If ; there was a shortage it was no nsa the farmers "bucking" against the Government's proposal, but they should .try end get as fair a-price as they could." ! . Mr. Schmidt seconded the motion, and fiaid it was the only fair way of dealing with tho ' question. If there was a ehortage'farmers were prepared to meet jthe /Government, but the Government should fix the price and not leave it to speculators to do so.

Mr. M'Queen moved: "That this ■'meeting entidely disapproves of the Government's action in prohibiting the exportation of produce, that it is an unwarrantable interference with the farmers in the carrying out of their business, as it will /.end to discourage the growing of oats and create a worse evil than exists now." He said that they should merely pass the motion and sit tight in tho meantime. Mr. Patterson seconded the motion. Mr. Trotter suggested that the first part of--the motion -be omitted, as it .was a sor of slur on the Government. "No! No!" A voice: "That's what they need—a slur.") ' The chairman 6aid that the price of ' oat's had not come back since the proclamation has been issued. A voice: ■ The price has gone back threepence. ' The secretary: Can you prove that? ,1 can prove that it ha u not gone back. I sold oats at from 4s. to 4s. 2d. a month ago, and this week I sold at 4s. Sd.-and 4s. 4d. After some further desultory discussion the ■ first motion was withdrawn, and Mr. M'Queen's resolution was car-.-ried, only three voting against it.