THE WHEAT QUESTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10385, 2 May 1925, Page 5

THE WHEAT QUESTION

NEXT YSAR? PRiCE, SOUTH CANTERBURY VIEWS. At a special meeting of the South Canterbury executive of the Mew Zealand Farmers' Union in Timaru yesterday the question of next year s price for wheat was discussed. There was an attendance of 15. The Mid-Canterbury executive of the Farmers' Union wrote forwarding a resolution passed at the recent conference of wheat-growers. This suggested that three delegates .should be appointed from each provincial district to inquire as to the form of organisation necessary to enable farmers to market their products and develop their industry, and that the funds in the hands of the Wheat Board be used for that purpose the delegates to co-operate with the Wheat Board A letter was received from Mr W. W Mulholland, Darfield, stating that it would be necessary shortly to decide what was to be the fate of the Wheat Board—whether it was to continue in existence, and if so, in what form. A conference to discuss the matter would probably be held about May 13, when he would suggest that an election by postal ballot be held, the electors to be wheat-growers who had sold their wheat under either of the Wheat Board's agreements. The persons so elected should have power, it they thought fit, to constitute themselves a Wheat Board, and to decide what shall I be the board's constitution and policy. I After the payment to growers of this I year's bonus of id per bushel, upon "which the board had decided there would remain a sum too small to be divided among 6000 individuals but ample for the taking of such a ballot as suggested, and still leave a small balance to enable the growers elected representatives to inaugurate thenpolicy. , . ~ It was agreed that it was not tor the meeting" that day to take any action in this matter. Mr P. It. Talbot gave an exhaustive report on the recent conference of wheat-growers and millers in Wellington, when tho price of wheat for the balance of the present season was discussed, and the millers had agreed to an increase of 5d per bushel. I After considerable discussion it was ' nnanimouslv decided to bo represented I at the conference, and Messrs P. P Talbot, S. H. Midgley, and It. Sinclair I were appointed representatives ol ! South Canterbury. I Mr W. F. Campbell moved that it | be left to the delegates to agree to tV ; best price obtainable. Mr D. F. Lewis said the Geraldvn* branch strongly objected to the pric being anything less than 7s. Mr Campbell said that in vit-.<- r the price at which Australian floir : could be imported it would be impos- ' J sible to get 7s as a minimum for wher here. ' ] Mr J. Macaulay said he would w ' ! like to see an agreement eitered in -1 " ! for so long a period as or :-err ■ I years at 6s 6d, but he would like f • j see an agreement at this price for or II or two years. They did not know wha ) I was ahead of them. > I Mr Campbell's motion was secondc I by Mr W. It. McGrath. and carried.