The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2446, 15 March 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1888.

I'jju.il «'ml t-Nai t j;s ;tici'. {<> .;!! ir.i-n, Of wli.it .'K vcr or [Mjiiiiaiiit/i), religious or ruiin.,l.

I x another column we publish a letter that, appeared in Tuesday's issue of tlio Herald, in which the writei' comments ou tlio unreasonably low ] irir-i- the Auckland growers nro living offered for their wheat. ife also compares the glaring di Terence Ivtwoen the prices of flour ruling in Australia and Auckland. In Adelaide, where the price, of who ;fc is f>s -'id per bushel, Hour is , ! JS I .Is per ton. In Auckland tin; millers are only giving iis Id per bushel for wheat delivered r.fc the, mil way station there, wliich is twopence lower than the Ad.'laid;: market price, yet in our city best roller Hour is sold at ILo exorbitant iv lii:;li i'a''' 'J 1 i ; per ion, or C : > os above t! 1 e' pri e of I he same arlicle in .Vf■ <■ I:!id■ ■, where the wheal market is dcirer. 'J 1 i!■ ■ wanL of eouity i; teo can only 1 le ,'ie"o:i !<!'■;! for by lie' e\i-;!."iice alnoii;;:- | !. . ::ibl'e influence of I'maiie; ■! < >:i vnd -i before which commerl prnbi.v ;ind fumes-; IUUX; s ; : i.:;b, vV (.ji in SlHMlgiillg i,hi' ' e!e : n •!!.;'rf.; of ( he a innl ry. n j • r i V ' I I e | *'| e (Vlli'.v ; o in a i'.„-mrr ari.iele that f.hf-rc is a combination amongst millers to keep down I he price of V,*lip.i ! lo a point Unit is sturvivtion

0 till! PIoJuCCI', I) Lit Wjli r; J) lii'.iw-i ilic widest [) i.viiliK: unrein oh' ,im> !it, in tins buyers. It is ;ilto-M-t!i■ i■ :ni irriuioiial state of tilings hat |irriiiits tlio noii-produccr, ina.ii ii-iiitrary fashion, to compel tin; .u'odiu-ei' to accept payment for i lie fruits of his labour at a scalo that inflicts an unwarrantable loss upon him. In the ordinary acccpt.;t i;~.n of the laws of trade, the procurer, or manufacturer, fixes tin; price, it which ho is ready to exchange ids produce or ijoods .so as to leave illin an ''(juiialile roturu for his outlay up'ui it or tlioui. Tlio buyer must pay tlio pricos demanded or leave it, anil tlio seller is froo to seek another buyer, or more willing' market. In the case before us the Olivers usurp tlio rights of tlio producers, and say they must accept what they (the buyers) will give, or nothing. The position is illogical and untenable, and the sooner ils i unsoundness is recognised and resisted the bettor. It is said that farmers cannot help themselves, tlioy are bound down too tightly, and must obey orders ; that is, tlioy are virtually slaves. Tlio farmers should be prepared to act independently. AVo have put it to tliem that they can either turn their grain into bacon and pork, orcafctle feed, or they can combine to store their wheat and send it to some outside market. There is every reason to believe that our views on this subject have received the hearty approval of the farmers, and we have the information on the best authority that the growers in Waikato are forming a combination to reject the low price of the millers, and, oil the contrary, to ship their wheat to lingland direct. Several of the largest growers have resolved to carry this step into effect; and, as these gentlemen are quiie capable of doing so, we would not be surprised to hear that they buy up the wheat crop of this district at a fair price, in order to place the lot in the English market in their own time.