THE WHEAT PURCHASE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 38, 8 November 1917, Page 8

THE WHEAT PURCHASE

■ ; - CONDITIONS'ARRANGED. . Ivlinister of Agriculture has been ■ in CnVis.tcb.uroh during the past fen , days conferring with the wheat farmers lot' tho South Island regarding the terras ,and conditions on. whicli tho Government .|Trould take over the wheat crop during ,the coming , season. At the conference j.the Minister submitted a scheme prepared by tho Board of Trade, of which ! the following is a rough outline:— ', (1) The Government is io be tho eole 'jurcliaser of the crop. .- (2) The farmers will get the guaranteed iprice of 55.: 10d. per bushel f.0.b., with 'slight Increments (as under last year's lechetne" for deliveries after April. > (3)" ate millers will be allowod to purchase only through Government agents, 'after they had been allotted their fair '<iuota of the crop. « I- (i) "a small joint Committee' of Advice will be appointed to assist in adiiuinistering;. the-6cbeme, consisting of {representatives of millers, farmers, grain .!Merchants, and brokers. : (5) A controller will be appoiuted who 'would work in fconjunction with the committee so appointed. i. (6) Disputes which will arise between [growers, brokers, or millers will be decided by- the Government grader,' j (7) A differential price for wheat for (North Island! growers will be fixerl, the ;<lifference to go to the grower. j (8) The price of sacks will be definitely (fixed; also the price of seed and fowl .'.wheat. . ' , j. This scheme was approved by tho coniference after full discussion, and it has (bow also been approved by the Govornj ment. The main feature of the agreeiment, that of purchase by the Govern-j-.ment at ss. - lOd., had already been anjnounced and agreed upon, Tho purpose ,of tlfe conference was to arrange details 'for t'ne carrying through of the business •of purchasing the wheat..