WHEAT PH PRICES.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1920, Page 4

WHEAT PH PRICES.

jPISR PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYBIOUT.J CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 18. The Wheat Growers’ Committee and Messrs Massey, Nosworthy, and W. D. S. McDonald (the Board of Trade) met here this afternoon. They discussed the question of wheat growing in the Dominion in future years. A settlement was arrived at.

It is officially announced that a higher price for 1919-20 wheat was agreed upon. This was*% 3d a bushel f.o.b. The new price works out at a price to the farmer, on the average, of 7s 0)d on the farm. For this year, the principle of differentiation in price for better varieties will apply, and thus an increase will be given for “hunters” of probably three pence per bushel and an increase for “pearl” of probably 6d per bushel. This increment, however, will probably, apply only to a very small proportion of any crop. The question of the price for subsequent years was left over for further consideration.

Referring to the wheat question, Mr Massey said the new arrangement just made was “a fair one to both- sides.” It only settled the price of wheat for one season, he said. The reason or that was that there had been a difference of opinion on the part of the larger body of the wheat growers which met in the morning. This had made it impossible for the smaller conference in the afternoon to arrive at a decision for covering a longer period than the current season.

After the Wheat conference, Mr David Jones, M.P., who was Chairman of the Conference, said the arrangement was “a satisfactory one.” It would mean simply, lie declared, that the farmers accepted the market price for this season’s wheat, which price was arranged by the Government. This arrangement was made recently. The Government, he said, were only carrying out their agreement with the farmers, which was made last, year by the Hon Mr MacDonald regarding the 1919-20 wheat crop.

As a result of the higher price to be paid for wheat to the growers, bread will rise in price. The extra, price of the'loaf of bread has not been worked out yet, but it is stated that, with the extra price of wheat agreed to, and also assuming that the Government continues to give its subsidy to the flour millers, the increase in the price of the four pound loaf will be twopence