WHEAT, MEAT, AND COAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1917, Page 8

WHEAT, MEAT, AND COAL.

ARRANGE THE PRICES (Special t News.')' Wellington, Jan. 12. Among the matters, discussed Ji a lengthy meeting of Cabinet to-day was the price that 13 tc he offered the farmers for wheat purchased by the Government. The conference between the Board of Trade and the Board of Agriculture on Wednesday did not roach a definite conclusion. The members of the Board of Trade were of opinion that an adequate supply of wheat (luring the next two or three 'season;: joU'd 00 assured by an offer by the Government to purchase at about 5s per bushel. The member*, of the Board 01 Agriculture, yfho are representative of farming interests, favored a higher price, understood to be in the neighborhood of Gs per bushel. Cabinet considered the view.:' of the two Boards, and will leal further, with the matter to-morrow. There are indication; that tine Ministers, like the Boards, find agreement hard to reach un this particular subject. When a proposal ha. been agreed upon, the details will bt submitted by cable to Mr. Mi.s»cy and Sir Joseph Ward before any public announcement ia .n.ide It probably would De a safe giics. that tbt> price finally offered t,. farmers will not be less than 5s and not more than Gs, but the margin if tfide enough to be of great interest to growers.

The members of the Board of Trade ieft for Auckland last ,iignt to deal further with the question of the retail price of meat. It may be re'.nomoered that some weeks ago the Auckland retai! butchers announced that the price of meat would have to bt vaised owing to the rise in wholesale charges. Tho Boar dof Trade took tire matter in hand and was discussing the position .vith tht butchers ol the. -northern city wluai summoned to Wellington to consider the price of wheat. Before leaving Auckland the Board got an assurance from the retailers that the old scale of. prices would be maintained pending further discussion. But the butchers heve since advised tho Board that they cannot delay the increase in charges any longer, since one cosi of stoct r_ rising rather than declining. The .nembers of the Board, therefore, wve hurried back to Auckland for the purpose of studying the situation at close quarters. Before leaving foi Auckland the board of Trade made some preliminary inquiries concerning th; ir.creane in the retail price of coal at Christchurch. The investigation hai not b..".Mi completed, but the facts alread) nlacec before the Board do not suggest Miat much relief can be given to the consumers. It appears that the increase in th.. price represent* nothing mor; than the increased charges to he met by th. retailer.