N.Z. WHEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1927, Page 4

N.Z. WHEAT

PROPOSED LEVY FOR RESEARCH. ■WELLINGTON. July 20. Recently overtures were begun in Canterbury for the institution of a voluntary levy by farmers, millers, and bakers for the purpose of conducting investigations into New Zealand wheat. It is proposed that a laboratory of cereal research shall he established in Canterbury, and that this shall he operated for tho lsenefit of all three groups which are interested in tho quality of the New Zealand production. The Department of Science and Industrial Research has been approached in the matter, and when Dr E. Mnrsdon. secretary to the Department, visited Christchurch a month ago lie met in discussion some of those interested in the scheme. However, at present the Department- is doing nothing, but is awaiting developments. The question of the establishment of a laboratory is now purely one • r rmanee. and if all the parties are agre- 1 on the imposition of a levy nccessarv for the beginning and operating ol such a laboratory it- is certain to con o

into being. At present- representatives of the farmers, millers, and bakers arc placing the scheme before their various organisations and the the whole matter is to he discussed at a conference in C hristchuroli towards the end of next month. Farmers, of

course, are interested in improving the production and quality cf their grain, while linkers wisti more knowledge of the best method of treating New Zealand flour, which at present has to he blended with Australian Hour in order to obtain a good loaf. On" of the issues in the present proposal is that any of the contributing g-r-aps may l-e eib'o to tax themselves further on grain or flour for the purpose of subsidising research upon any particular side of the wheat investigation. which may promise results valuable to their onrticular industry. This knowledge, of cettrse, will be made public and is expected to be of value to the whole Dominion.

PRICE FIXING. A FARMER’S SFGGFSTION. WELLINGTON, July 20. When proposing a vote of thanks Lo Mr W. J. Poison for bis presidential address to the Dominion Farmers’ C nferenee, Mr J. 11. Jill! (Hauke’s Bay) said that lie could not see üby fanners should not lix ike price at which their products should he s dd. Winn they attempted to buy other things they quickly found that the prices were fixed high enough, too. Why should not farmers have the same privilege ? Those who talked about the inexorable law of supply and demand having ait effect on price-fixing, he suggested. were not on very sine ground, as coo! storage, and IHo ability to hold produce in store f r a long, time, \\dnt very important factor to he reckoned with.