THE WHEAT CROP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9051, 23 July 1917, Page 2

THE WHEAT CROP

NEXT SEASON'S PRICE.

5s 10d-ON TRUCKS WANTED

TIMARU, July 21. At a largely attended and representative meeting of the South Canterbury executive of the Farmers' Union held to-day, the question of getting a definite understanding from the Government as to ■ the "■ terms on which they will purchase the next wheat crop was discussed at some length. Mr John Talbot said that this was a very important matter. After last harvest. the; Government feared there: would be a shortage of wheat, and after the Minister of Agriculture had travelled both islands meeting farmers and. discussing the question, he decided to offer 5s lOd per bushel. Ho (the speaker) had impressed upon the Minister that it would be best to make a straight-out offer for next season's wheat. The Minister did this, but nothing more definite than his verbal promise had since been given. Tho price had not been gazetted, ajid the question had now arisen whether, the 5s lOd included all wheat or whether it was only for wheat of prime quality. There was also a question as to whether it was to be on trucks or f.o.b. A proposal had recently been made 'that the whole thing should be reconsidered and the prico raised. The os lOd had been fixed on the basis of happenings during tho previous year, and his idea was that the 5s lOd would be for prime quality only. These . little differences were scarcely worth troubling about, however, and the efforts of the Union should be . directed twards getting the 5s lOd offer put on a firm, reliable basis. They should know exactly what they were doing. The difference between f.o.b. and on

the trucks price would amount, say, to 2d a bushel at the most, and he did not think they should hold out for that. They should bo content to get 5s lOd f.o.b. if they could get it gazetted. If the Minister was willing to give them 5s lOd on trucks, Timaru, 6O much the bettor, but if ho objected they should not haggle over the point, but a-ccept the offer he had made, and get it in black and white, so that they would know exactly where they stood. It might bo said that if the price were made on trucks, Timaru, farmers closo .to the port would have an advantage over those far back, as the latter would have most railage to pay, but against this was tho fact that farmers in the backblocks had paid loss for their land than those close to the port. If farmers could not sell to the millers they would be liable to get.in an awkward fix if they had no gazetted price from the Government. He thought the proper thing to do was to tell the Minister that farmers were prepared to accept . liis offer of 5s lOd, and to ask that he gazette it. He thought that on trucks, Timaru, would .be the. fairest thing to be asked for. . From present idications there would be more wheat next year than would-meet the necessities of the country, and the Government should take in hand its distribution as promised.

Mr G. Butler, who is not now growing wheat, said that farmers had had two bad years, and it', skeined to him that tho price offered tfor' the next crop was a fair otiev^'-i&shquld be 5s lOd on trucks, Timaru, lsd not f.o.b. Farmers in the Point: district had lost on their wheat during the past two or three years, and they only wantod what was reasonable and fair. There were various qualities of good milling wheat, and there should be some differentiation in tho price of the different varieties. ■ > ■. Mr H. Orbell (Raincb'ff) said that if they had been offered -:5s lOd by the Minister they should accept it, and say nothing. It was unfair, however, that North Island farmers should not grow their fail- share of wheat. According to newspaper ; reports, only 12,000 acres had been sown in wheat in the North Island this year, while the increased area under wheat in South Canterbury alone was estimated at about 8000 acres. ;.

Mr Trotter (Fairlie) : said that Mr Talbob had. touched the right key. The cost of production had gone up 80 per cent., and 5s lOd was a fair price. If there was a surplus of half a million bushels in the Dominion it was hard to say what they would receive for their wheat unless they got tho price fixed definitely now by the Government. The Fairlie branch considered that the price oifered was a fair one, provided it was on trucks Timaru, instead of f.O.b. ■■ '■■"."' ■■■■■; '''.[/, ■.""•'■ ■'" '.

Mr Patterson (Otaio) said the Minister had offered them 5s lOd for all good milling wheat, and they should accept that. If 'they opened negotiations again and asked for more it would be open to the Minister to offer a lower price. He did not 'think the Minister would quibblo or attempt to go back on what he had promised. They should simply ask him to gazette it. They should just ask tho Minister to fulfil his bargain and promise him that farmers would fulfil theirs. Mr Talbot said there was quite 3d a bushel difference between different varieties of prime milling wheat, and a difference should be made in tho price, on this account. When at tho Dominion Conference they would see the Minister, and what they would probably have to agree to would be an average of 5s lOd for thoir prime milling wheat.

Mr Copland moved—" That the South Canterbury delegates ask the Minister to gazette the price at an, average of 5s lOd for all milling wheat on trucks Timaru."

Mr Macaulay (Albury) asked who would bear the burden of holding the wheat supposing there was a_ surplus and the Government did not buy it ? Mr Moore (Waitohi) said the Government had agreed to b;uy it. The Minister had circularised farmers ask-

ing them to grow wheat, and stating that it would pay 5s lOd for it. Thai was definite, and there should be no further haggling. Mr Bitchener (Waimate) agreed that the subject should not bo re-

opened. Farmers had put in their wheat on the strength of the Government's offer, and there had been a great deal more sown than would have

been the ease in other circumstances. The Minister had promised them a certain price, and they simply wanted that price'gazetted so that they would know exactly whore they wore. Mr McCort (Albury) said he would like to see the price 5s lOd on trucks, country stations. He could name instances where 20s per bushel would not have paid the grower. Farmers in the backblocks were under much heavier expenses than those along the seaboard, and if the price were made on trucks, country stations, it would help to level down this difference in

the cost of production. The Minister had only promised to buy good milling wheat. Suppose there was a wet '• vest and all the wheat was spoiled, whose wheat would it be ? Mr Hart: The farmers would be left with it on their hands then. That was only one of the many risks they had to take. The chairman said it was a very remote contingency to count upon getting all their wheat spoiled. A fair average quality standard would be fixed, and the price would bo based on this. The wheat would have to be used whether it was discoloured or not.

The motion to ask for the gazetting .of the price at 5s lOd on trucks limn.ru was then put and carried unanimously. ' : Mr Talbot said that- the ■ difference between on trucks Timaru . and f.o.b. would not amount on a 30-busliel crop to more than 5s per acre.; ' On the motion of Messrs Hart, and Bassett, it was decided that the Government be also asked to see that fanners do not lose more than a penny on their sacks. J