MARKETING OF WHEAT

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12620, 3 December 1926, Page 2

MARKETING OF WHEAT

PROBLEMS DISCUSSED A SURPLUS PREDICTED FURTHER PROTECTION DESIRED Per Press Association. ASHBURTON, December 2. Between seventy and eighty representatives of branches and provincial executives of the New Zealand Farmers* Union A. and P. Association and wheat growers in the north, mid and South • Canterbury met to-day to disketing of the new season’s wheat crop. The conference, which was convened by the Mid Canterbury executive of the union, was presided over by the president of that body, Mr J. Carrl The Hon. 0. J. Hawken, who had been invited to attend, telegraphed that he thought it inadvisable for the Government to be represented at this stage, but he would be glad to hear the result of the conference. Hon. W. Nosworthy advised that he could not attend owing to a prior engagement and the uncertain position in regard to the freezing industry. * Mr W. W. Mulholland outlined tile problem as it faced the growers to-day. They would, probably have . between 7,000,000 ' and _ 8,000,000 bushels of wheat to he disposed of this coming season, and unless they had some means of handling the surplus they were hound to see prices down below the economio value. SETTLED POLICY NEEDED Another aspect of the problemf«was relative to imported wheat and, flour, and this heeded adjustment. Proceeding, the speaker referred to the proposed association of vvheat growers that would be concerned in the first place with obtaining information and allowing members to determine the value of their wheat. Further, the association should have-power to remove any surplus of wheat frojn the market from the point of view of the country ns well as the wheatgrowers. It would be disastrous if prices fell, say 2s Gd a bushel as a result of the surplus. It would mean that the wheat crop the following year wpuld fall by 50 per cent. If .they were to solve the problems before them they had to make up their minds to a settled policy. Many aspects of the question wore discussed By the conference, which sat from II a.m. to 5 p.m. Mr G. IV. Leadley moved, and Mr W. T. Lill seoonded: “That considering the disparity in Australian flour quotations, viz., £ls 10s per ton for local (Australian) consumption, as against £l2 per ton for export, this meeting, representative of the wheat growers, views with considerable apprehension the effect upon cur local wheat market and the future of the wheat growing industry in New Zealand, and/respectfully urges upon the Government the necessity of imposing an embargo on the importation of flour.’’ On the suggestion of Mr Carpenter (Rangiora), a clause was added, “That the embargo be applied until the New Zealand wheat was all sold.’’ Mr L. V. Talbot (Temuka) moved as an amendment, “That the Government bo askeyl to increase the duty on flour by £1 a ton, failing which the Government be asked to arrange a readjustment of the duties between wheat and flour.’’ Mr McMillan (North Canterbury) seconded the amendment, which was lost by a substantial majority on a show of hands, and the motion was carried. INCREASE IN FLOUR DUTY Mr Talbot then moved, “That a Grain Growers* Association bo formed to obtain reliable information concerning grain statistics and values.’’— Carried with ono dissentient. Mr R. T. McMillan (North Canterbury) moved, and, Mr J. McAnulty (Mcthven) seconded, “That in the event of an embargo being refused, we ask for an increase on the duty on flour by 25s a ton.”—Carried. 'Hie following deputation was allpointed to place the matters before the Government: Messrs G. W. Leadley, A. M. Carpenter andi J. Carr, with a South Canterbury representative to bo appointed later. The final motion carried was: “That a oorrmjittee be appointed to follow up the resolution forming a wheat growers’ organisation to consist of one representative from each of the provincial farmers’ union districts, Canterbury, Ashburton and South Canterbury A. and P. Associations, such committee to have power to act as the wheat growers’ executive, the North iCanterbnry executive to be the convenor. '