WHEAT GROWERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1942, Page 2

WHEAT GROWERS

HIGHER PRICE FOR 1943 MAXIMUM ACREAGE NEEDED. ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. An increase in the price for the 1943 wheat harvest was announced last evening by the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan. He said tha. in the interests of the country’s national security, and to the meet the needs of the forces in New Zealand and the South Pacific it was more urgent and essential than ever lhat New Zealand should produce the verv maximum quantity of wheat that could be produced. Knowing the wheatgrowers as he did, he knew that his call to them lor their utmost effort would not be macle in vain.' • . . “When I met the wheatgrowers at various meetings in Canterbury and North Otago in April last, representations were made to me for a higher price,” said the Minister. “I agreed that a case should be prepared for submission to the Price Tribunal, and promised that on receipt of the tribunal's- report I would make representations to my colleagues. Schedules of increased costs were prepared by various farmers’ organisations and collated by United Wheatgrowers. The presentation of the ca=e was entrusted bv the growers to the chairman of United Wheatgrowers Mr H. F. Nicol, and the Dominion nresident of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union Mr W. W. Mulholland. “T gave the subject of an increased mice for the wheatgrowers most careful consideration and submitted a proposal to my Ministerial colleagues. Following these discussions I have now decided to increase the nrice to 6s l v -’d Tuscan. March basis, f.o.b. growers’ nearest port, for wheat of the 1943 harvest. This represents an increase of 4'Ad over the price for the present season.” Mr Sullivan said he had also been able to arrange for a further %d a bushel to be paid into a snecial fund to be operated by the ■Wheat Committee at their discretion to provide compensation for growers who suffered loss through hail, flood or frost.