WHEAT PRICES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 158, 23 March 1918, Page 10

WHEAT PRICES

■FARMERS' OPINIONS,

This week'a Ghristchurch:' "Press" representative obtained the opinions of farmers on the question of wheat ' prices :^.. From what they said' fstatos tho "Press'-'), it would appear that tho . rise of Id. per. bushel on Tuscan and 2d.'and 3d.'per bushel on Hunters and Velvet .respectively is a good , way from the price to which the great majority of wheat-growers thought they were entitled, - "To put the matter .in a nutshell," said one, "I. don't think tho Government's offer jwill be. sufficient to make any man change' his mind. For my part, speaking ' as a grower of wheat, the additional money offered would not persuade- me to put in 0110 extra paddock of wheat. It is rather a paltry offer when all the circumstances are taken into consideration, and tho Government is very well awaje of what these circumstances are. W0 have had threo very disappointing years, and the present _ season is for some reasons tho most disappointing of the three.- . Personally, I must, as a -business man, take into account the risk attaching to tho operation of wheat-growing. When Igo into such a proposition, I want to see my way out. of it, at a reasonable profit if possible, but at any rate without a loss, and a great maiiy men have actually lost m'oney over wheat lately. It is rather annoying to a wheat man to feel that his year's work has been done for nothing when he knows that his neighbour over the fence has made a good profit out of lambs or wool or dairying. I must say that this year the labour question has not been half as bad as 1 thought it was going to be. We got through the harvest very well considering. Certainly we had to pay high wages to harvesters and for our thrasliing, but I will say that, . as far as my oxperience went, the men ■worked like men. They did their share, and seemed to realise that there was a heavy responsibility upon them. However, what the conditions will bo next harvest we don't know, and I think it is as much this uncertainty as the matter of actual prices which is causing so much anxiety to farmers. If we had a really good harvest I fancy most men could make a reasonable profit on the new prices, but with all the existing uncertainty I don't think the Government's offer will change any farmer's mind. Li do not share the •usual idea that; practically no wheat will bo grown; a fair-sized area will go in, but it will bo a good deal less than last year. In my opinion it would be rather a disgrace for New Zealand to be entirely dependent upon Australia for wheat, and you may be very certain that if we get into this position 'we shall pay dear for it. Our extremity will be Australia's opportunand with wheat in Amoriba at 9s. tr bushel,, you niay back on the fact that Australia will get every penny out of- us that she can, and we will have to pay it." '' Another farmer concurred with these views. The Government could very well afford to offer a substantial tonus to all wheatgrowors for every bushel of wheat they produced, ho said. The money could be taken from the amounts gained for wool, meat, and dairy''produce, and certainly the men who grew the wool and meat would hardly feel the difference, part of which would be returned to them in the cheaper flour and bread they would receive,