WHEAT.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1920, Page 1

WHEAT.

INCREASED PRODUCTION NECESSARY.

•DUNEDIN, June 5. Mr J. B. Waters waited on the Farm, ers’ Union Conference, on behalf of the Wheat Trade Committee, and oxpressthe regret of Mr W. G. McDonald (Wheat Controller) and the Hon W. Nosworthy (Minister of Agriculture) that they were unable to be preserft. Ho had been asked to do all lie could to emphasise the absolute necessity for increasing wheat production. For the first time since the wheat control was inaugurated, the Government had given farmers sufficient inducement to encourage them to grow wheat. The Minister had pointed out that it had been decided to accept 7s 6d for Tuscan, 7s 6d. for Hunters, and 7s 9d for Pearl. This was the minimum f.ob. price—it did not necessarily inoamthe maximum. If the world price of wheat were higher, then the New Zealand farmer would get that. Nothing had been definitely settled as to the pree of wheat under milling quality, lnit there were excellent grounds for believing that the maximum price for it would be 2d less than good" milling price. That was a point that should appeal to farmers growing wheat south of Dunedin, where sometimes the percentage was below milling

quality . ■ The area put under wheat in the Dominion was steadily decreasing. In 1914-15, there were 229,000 acres, but last year there were only 142,000 acres under wheat, and it had been necessary to buy 4,000,000 bushels in Australia. By July next, the last of that would have been shipped, and it was highly probable that Australia would refuse to sell more, except at exhorbitant rates.

It was going to be a serious problem whether they could supply millers with sufficient wheat to carry on with* until the new season’s crop was available. The union resolved that the president and Mr Waters be empowered to visit the wheat-growing districts and urge farmers to grow wheat.