WHEAT GROWING.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 September 1918, Page 4

WHEAT GROWING.

AUDACIOUS TIMAEU PROPOSALS. A LETTER TO THE MINISTER. TIMAEU, •September 22 The executive of the Farmers’ Union adopted a resolution that a letter be sent to the Minister for Agriculure on wheat growing, stating that they trust due effect will be given to the Minister’s express opinion that farmers should have protection from outside competition. In reply to the Minister’s suggestion farmers, owing to the disheartening experience, cannot undertake to offer proposals for dealing,with the failure of crops and they cannot recommend that the Wheat Controller and Director of Agriculture be appointed to make inquiries and report, the farmers giving willing assistance. It is hoped that a straight out offer will be made for next an following year’s crops. The figures of the Government Statistician (August Abstract) show that last year’s wheat was less than half a million bushels short of requirements, so three and a half million bushels of the recent Australian purchase will go to" meet the shortage of next crop. The letter emphasises that this should not be used to fix the price of locally grown wheat. If it is, the promise of a free market will be impossible of realisation The farmers arc of opinion that the Government should take over the wheat scheme which worked so well last year. The letter also states that the position is acute through |he continued depleion of working farmers and farm labourers, despite assurances to the contrary, and the replacement of labour is essential to the preservation of the industry.