WHEAT FARMER SAYS PRESENT PRICE IS FAIR

Grey River Argus, 10 April 1948, Page 3

WHEAT FARMER SAYS PRESENT PRICE IS FAIR

WELLINGTON, April 9. “Any farmer who has land suitable for* growing wheat and who wilfully evades his responsiblties is unworthy of his heritage, and he sullies the tradition of the oldest and most honourable calling in the world,’ said Mr W. J. Fletcher, in a national broadcast. “Many farmers say point-plank, ‘lncrease the -’’ice arid you will get the wheat.’ I feel that the price set up is fair—Bs a bushel—plus increases in price for proven costs,” said Mr Fletcher. Mr Fletcher is a farmer at Willowbridge, Waimate. During the war he was vice-chairman of the South Canterbury Primary Production Council, and chairman of the South Canterbury executive of Federated Farmers and chairman of the Waimate branch of Federated Farmers. © “No New Zealand wheatgrower or his man is happy in the thought that we produced only 140,000 acres of wheat this season.” said Mr Fletcher. “We need 365,000 acres to produce the whole of our nation’s requirements. We have a contract with Australia to supply 4,500,000 bushels annually to supplement our stocks, but this is not sufficient, and a request for further supplies has been made. Wheat means bread, and we must have bread, but must we take it from Europe’s larder?” As a wheatgrower for more than 25 years, he knew the amount of work involved in growing wheat. More than 80 per cent, of New Zealand’s wheat, however was directheaded, and this factor had reduced the amount of time and work put into wheatgrowing to a minimum over the last 15 years. "I aporeciate the many problems and difficulties facing the wheatgrower, but while our people consume supplies that rightfully belong to Europe, our course as honourable men is clear. The urgency of the need for wheat transcends all appeals for sentiment and patriotism; it strikes right at the core of moral responsibility, and I humbly ask my fellow countrymen to do all in their power to help feed the hungry families of men. I conclude by quoting the greatest authority mankind has ever known. These are His words:— ‘What man is there of you who. if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone’?”