HUGE WHEAT POOL.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1926, Page 2

HUGE WHEAT POOL.

CONTROL OF MARKETS. (Australia Sr N.Z. Cable Association.] NEW YORK. Fob. R>. A telegram from St. Paul stales: — The organisation of a wheat pool by the representatives from the t nited States. Canada and Ausrtalin, was cflertod at the opening meeting. Mr Coleman Burnell (President of the Manitoba Wheat Pool) was elected chairman of (lie eonfereue, Mr (). J. Scott (Secretary of the North Dakota Wheat Boo!) serving as secretary. It is announced that Hie allowing topics will go taken up immediately, namely : ()rga uisa I lon. mini i tiistrut ion, physical handling ol the crop, soiling policy, reliremenl of reserve-, and international eoordi mat ion.

.Mr McDonald was the principal speaker at the opening session. He briefly sketched the history of the Australian cooperative wheat marketing movement, showing how it was inaugurated timing the world war. and detailing the vicissitudes of the movement until it bail now arrived at a position securing efficiency in the marketing of the wheat farmers’ products profitably. He said: “During the war because of Australia’s distance from fly English markets and the submarine warfare, we were unable to ship wheat outside the country. A phut was finally formulated to handle the wheat, and store it fur future sale. Following the war, the reorganisation of the pools on a voluntary basis, authorised by llu* 'Government, was adopted success!idle.“ Mr McDonald said the United States and Australia must perfect (heir organisations, emulating Canada. Then t'-e Argentine producers could he approached.

Air .McDonald refused to express an opinion regarding the outcome <>i the conference. Me sac.! the Canadians must take the lead, since they initialed the meeting. They had built the creates pooling organisation in the world. He said the general opinion ainontr the delegates was that a so-called •‘intelligence system” of co-operation, rather than a definite organisation would result front the conference . Mr McDonald added: “Although our conditions are different from yours, because of the climate dissimilarity. ■ there is much in common and we are vitally interested in the Canadian and American pools. Harvesting is under way at home, or we would have a larger representation.’’ .Most of the Canadian delegates, representing four powerful Dominion pools, arrived to-day. Eight United states organisations are represented. They have held close executive sessions to form a dmnciic organisation as a preliminary to the conference. More than fifty delegates are attending. The Argentine is the onlv importan producer not represented.

WHKAT POOL CONFERENCE. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) NEW YORK. Feb. 1/

A St. Pa.til message says that with the International Conference of Wheat Pools now a permanent organisation one of the most important functions to he performed immediately will he to obtain information regarding crops, available grain supplies and trade demands from all wheat producing and consuming countries of the world. Mr AY. H. Frederick. Manitoba delegate. said the need of such a source of information had been emphasised last autumn, and in the early winter, when farmers of tlte United States and Canada were ttnak-le to obtain correct statistics regarding the crops and conditions in the Argentina. “We have not taken definite steps to extend the benefits of pool marketing of wheat to every country in the world. Our programme not only calls for perpetuation of this conference,” said Frederick, “but for the extension of pooling system in countries not now enjoying its 1 iene.fi ts.”