PAYMENT FOR WHEAT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 42, 18 January 1938, Page 8

PAYMENT FOR WHEAT

* ' ON MOISTURE CONTENT. NEW SYSTEM INTRODUCED. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 16. Details of the new system of payment for wheat based on moisture content, which will penalise growers sending forward wheat in inferior condition, are contained, in a circular which the Wheat Committee is sending to all brokers. The new scheme provides that a deduction of 4d a bushel shall be made for wheat sent forward containing from 15.6 to 16.5 per cent of moisture; and that millers shall be prohibited from buying, and growers from selling as milling quality, wheat which contains more than 16.5 per cent of moisture.

The new system is part of a plan to improve the quality of wheat and flour and to encourage the careful farmer anrl penalise the careless one. It has been approved by representatives of both sides of the industry—growers and millers. Mr R. McPherson, manager of the Wheat Committee, explaining the system of payment on moisture content, said yesterday that its effect would be to encourage farmers who treated their wheat properly and ensured that it was in first-class condition. AN IMPORTANT POINT. An important point about the new plan was that the deduction of 4d a bushel for too much moisture content did not mean that the 4d went to the millers. The money from such deductions was to be paid to the Wheat Committee so that no miller could secure an advantage by buying inferior wheat at a lower price. The step was taken to prevent the wheat and flour industry being spoiled by the man who did not take the care he should with his wheat. This would not only improve the quality of the flour but should also bo to the advantage of the wheat-growing industry as a whole. The millers’ and wheat-growers’ representatives on the electoral committee of United Wheat-growers, Ltd., had been consulted about the new plan of payment on moisture content, and the scheme had their approval, Mr McPherson added. MAXIMUM CONTENT FOR FLOUR. The text of the circular is:— “The maximum moisture content for flour is fixed at 15 per cent. “Wheat may be delivered up to 15.5 per cent moisture content without any adjustment in price, but where wheat contains more than the 15.5 per cent an adjustment as provided below must be made, the method of test to be the Carter-Simon process. Any dispute in regard to moisture content is to be referred to the Wheat Research Institute, whose decision shall be final. “For wheat containing between 15.6 per cent, to 16.5 per cent of moisture a deduction of 4d a bushel shall be made and millers shall be prohibited from accepting and farmers from delivering as f.a.q. milling quality any wheat containing more than 16.5 per cent moisture. No allowance for dockage *ll be made to the miller, but the ™ a bushel will be retained by the Wheat Committee, provided that it will be permissible for millers to dry wheat on behalf of the grower to the requisite moisture content, charging the grower, and purchasing the wheat on the basis of 15 per cent moisture content. Millers will be given warrants only on condition that they sign an undertaking to deduct the above-men-tioned dockage and not to accept wheat of more than 16.5 per cent moisture.”