THE PRICE OF WHEAT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 263, 25 July 1918, Page 10

THE PRICE OF WHEAT

DECISION OF CONFERENCE TO BE ADHERED TO. By Telocranh.— Vresa Aesociation. Christchurch, July 25. . At a meeting of the Farmers' Union' to-day a telegram was received from the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald to the effect that the decision arrived at by the conference in Christchurch in April—namely, o minimum price of 6s. til. per bushel for all grades of wheat in the coming season, with a free market—was to be adhered to. The opinion ir.t.s expressed that next season there would Ue a greater shortage of wheat than ever, und compulsion should l)e applied to farmers who had wheat land and .were not cropping it. After some discussion on the exact meaning of free market the meeting went into committee to consider the information placed ljcf nrc.it by the Efficiency Board Commissioner, and on resuming in open meeting, the following motion was carried: "That this meeting approves of the action of its representatives in conference with the Minister in asking for an average rate of 7s. nor bushel, -with. Government control, tliis rtoing a price at which wheat can be landed in New Zealand from Australia , ." During tho discussion it was contended that a free mai-ket wonld enoble a corner in wheat, and it was alleged that Rome firms were already making preparations to buy largo quantities of wheat. .