WHEAT GROWING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3145, 25 July 1917, Page 8

WHEAT GROWING

A DEFENCE OF THE FARMERS

,ihe .subject of ivheat growing / was dealt with by Sir James Wilson ill his address to true Farmer*' Union Conference yesterday. "Wheat growing," he said, "has been unprofitable and tanners have preferred to turn their attention to other products. Mr. JJassey, however, seeing that there would be a possible shortage of this cereal, asked the fanners, when the war began, to put as much wheat in as possible. . They responded loyally, and the area put in wheat was increased by 100,000 acres; b.ut the returns were disappointing, and the difficulties of sale intensified by Government restrictions so that a serious loss was sustained, in the following year naturally after this discouraging result, farmers reduced , the area down to under 200,000 acres, ami as a result the yield would not. run out moro than about five million' bushels, owing to a low return of about 23 bushels per acre. The outlook for tho following season was not bright, and farmers were not disposed to increase the area in wheat owing to come extent (o the injudicious criticism and statements about their want of patriotism by those who wished to get the favour of the urbau population.. The Minister of Agriculture wisely, however, visited, the .wheat-grow-ing districts and held many meetings in relation to our future supply of wheal. He had been succcsssful in ci mpleting negotiations in connection with, tho sale of tho wool clip; ha<[ conducted the sale of portion of tho cheese output, and his visit, and interviews wit h farmers, I ; firmly beloivo. are going to result in a. great effort to supply sufficient wheat, for our requirements. If we have a, good season. (Void what. 1 can gather, this will be accomplished. The n«estio!i of price, however, has still to be settled 5 tho promised price of ss. lOd. f.o.b. ivil.l act very unfairly in many districts. A.fanner a' hundred miles from port wiAl get ss. 10d., less cost of delivering , tj/ie'i wheat 011. board the steamer. Possiblty, therefore, a. miller one hundred mi'los from port will be able to deduct 6d. 'a bushel, although tho wheat is ground into flonr in the district where jt vrns grown. There will be much heartburning over this, unless it. is changed, ail if ought to be. to the price '011 trucks' or 'delivered at the mill.' Then, ag:)!:n. supposing tho season is a, good ono and instead of the yield being'less than appearance warranted, as in the two past years, the crop turns' out' heavier •ftia.n expected, the Government has gtiiiranteed a price and the fanner is prepared to deliver it. Many will be ready to deliver at the same time. Will then l be storage provided or will some arrangement bo mado for delivery in turn.i? Supposo thero is a block in delivery arid tho farmer wants to sell; the juerchirnt, or miller may not be prepared to ta la?, delivery, what then? All this sho'oJd bo settled .before it is too late, or,,'(hero will be disapnointment and dissatisfaction, and the following year many: wheatgrowers will aga.l'll drop out. T': would bo well, when the wheat is growi ng, that .% census be taken of the areas, a:ml arrangements made whereby tho rotation of delivery could be derided, yr.r'i even Hie extent of -a definite district for each mill and the rotation of thrash ing laid down, so that the , least time wuid be last and most expedition mado. Some arrangements must be made fro: storage of the grain to 1)0 held over for later use, and the wholo question v.'ajrts careful- consideration and organisation. The Order-in-Council dealing with the prico is not yet gazetted, and it is to Ijo houed that wiser counsels will nreviail when Cabinet considers it. and that provision will be made for all contingen ivies. Ono of the arguments against an 'O.T.' price was that it would increase tin; pi ice of bread; At. tho most the avcrajro nrico of ss. 10d. plus freight, would nc.it: ljc more than 65., and certainly tho .'Australian wheat will cost more than that at the mill. If the Government ifi soing to charge anything under (is. I'd:!there will bo a loss. Yet the farmer is asked to take less than that price.: . Cleavly if the nrice of Australian whija.t is lo' be 6s. 3d. and bread remains tli.o same price as at present, then it will nut raise the. price'of bread if the farmers are paid an 'O.T.' price. After the. 'Minister's experience "iii Australia, and I,lie knowledge that harvesting is much nyirc expensive ?n New Zealand than in ';tie OoinmunTvcalfh, and the risk which Is always present in wheat-growing. I 'do not doubt but, 'that, when the Cabinr/; finally <-tn<siders the Order-in-Counci| which. must bo passed to give tlie authority to purchase, . the fairness of Ihk 'O.T.' price will be acknowledged,"