WHEAT POOL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1929, Page 5

WHEAT POOL

DISSENSIONS AMONG MEMRERS

United Press Association- By Electric Telegraph- Copyright).

(Received this dav at S.BO. a.in.) OTTAWA, April 20.

Ihe \) innipeg “ Tribune ” publishes

a statement to-day that unconfirmed hut persistent reports indicate MePhail (President), Mnlvor (sales manager), and Smith (European representative) of Canadian wheat pool have been forced to resign by Alberta and Manitoba members. Saskatchewan, which produces over 50 per cent of the pool grain is the cause of the disscntion. Manitoba and Alberta growers have enjoyed six per cent per hundredweight shipping premium over rates paid by Saskatchewan, yet under the pool plan of flat payments throughout the former provinces must share this advantage with Saskatchewan producers. There has been friction in the pool for nearly five years on this issue. Pool leaders claimed they could not operate effectively unless this advantage in shipping rates was distributed over the entire membership. Manitoba and Alberta chafed at the ruling and fought it tooth and nail. The “Tribune’s” article continues: “ It i.s only now according to rumour which is well founded though unconfirmed, that Alberta and Manitoba have become strong enough to force the issue to the point of demanding resignations among the pool’s expert executive.

Students of the situation believe, however, that while the future of the pool is clouded by this issue, and it is problematical whether Saskatchewan will surrender the right to share shipping premiums, members will ultimately patch up the differences. Growers as a whole- are alive to the realities of the position. They realise the grain trade i.s only too anxious to see the pool break up in dissensions and recriminations, in order that it can again assert dominance over unorganised and largely defenceless individual producers.”