WHEAT PRICES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 154, 19 March 1918, Page 8

WHEAT PRICES

SELSffIiINGS A BUSHEL " Farmers' difficulties The Government has fixed the prices of wheat to be guaranteed to farmers for the 1913-19". crop.,.-The price f.o.b. will average Gs. a busbel, the following being the rates for tho different sorts: Tuscan, ss. lid.;' Hunter's, 65.; Pearl and Velvet, 6s. Id. per bushel: The Minister in charge of this business, the Hon. "\V. D. S. MacUonald, in making-this announcement, hed a little to say about tho situation regarding wheat production. "The crop this year has been a-very disappointing one,"'said Mr. Mac Donald. "Up till December the promise was for more than an average yield, say 28 bushels to the acre, and now, the estimate is that,.the yield will not be better than 21 bushels'to the .acre., For three years the farmers have hadfaiiures.with their wheat crops. Now, with the high prices ruling for labour—often for inefficient labour—the high cost of nil farm implements,- of, binding twine, of oils, and machinery.'of -all classes, the cost' of prodiictidn "of wheat has gone up enormously in the 1 past year or two. Farmers Bay that the payments they had to make in connection with this •harvest exceeded all their estimates. There seems to be no doubt that this season's crop'has not been a paying one ! to the-fanner. One of-,the instances of 'increased 'cost that: : was quoted to me was this: The cost oFa, binder before'the, war was about £35;, now the freight ' on', a reaper "and, binder from America is £35. . ■, .... ': "From the farmers' point of view there is also this to bo .considered— that under present conditions ,-hey can do.-vory much, hotter with sheep-than with/cropping, and'this with less anxiety and uncertainty. Under the circumstances it is natural that they should be diffident about tho,amount of wheat they should put, in during the' coming year. I feel sure that if they are satisfied that the .wheat is badly needed they will do their. very, best to produce it. It is a fact that the wheat purchased'■ by the Government in Australia canriot he landed' liere at prices any lower-than it is proposed shall be guaranteed' 10 the New Zealand farmers. ....

• V''The farmers' great-.anxiety ;s m respect irf labour. They have loanngsd wonderfully this year by combination amongst themselves, and so ■assisting ■ one another, but they are afraid that next year the.shortage >vill be so that no amount of combination < will serve to'get them over'next liarvest.. "Last year we had something in the ■nature of a campaign to induce ers to grow wheat. I don't know that this'will be necessary this year. 'I think"the farmers fully understand the position. I addressed one or two sir all iheetings of' farmers in Canter jury, and the farmers at those meetings told me "that'they would: do. their utmost togo' oil growing wheat, but they -said that they thought/they should .receive more consideration from ;the G'.vernment with-regard to.the' exemption ot 'essential -farm, labour.. -I, think that they will be met in this respect as far as possible."