WHEAT GROWERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 155, 12 April 1928, Page 4

WHEAT GROWERS.

FORMATION OF ASSOCIATION. MEETING 'AT RANGIORA. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. As the outcome of an address by Mr J E Strachan, M.A., principal of the Rangiora High School, on co-operative marketing, the executive of the Rangiora branch of the Farmers' Union set up a sub-committee to bring ■ forward a scheme for the formation of a Wheatgrowers' Association. This committee, after going into the question drew up a scheme in which the articles of the Association were compiled from those of an association in existence in Canada, which from the growers' point of view had turned out eminently satisfactory- This scheme was • submitted to the different branches of the Farmers' Union in North Canterbury, and was very favourably received. At the invitation of the Rangiora executive, delegates were appointed from each branch to a conference arranged' to be held in Rangiora on Tuesday evening. At this conference 22 delegates were present, representing Rangiora, Cust, West Eyreton' and Culverden branches. Apologies for non-representation were received from the Cheviot and Oxford branches. Mr J- E. Strachan was also present. . /,,;.„, Mr A. Fisher, chairman of the Culverden branch, was voted to the chair. In thanking the delegates for electing him chairman, Mr Fisher said that he was entirely in sympathy with the suggestion to form a wheat-growers' association, and he hoped that the outcome of the meeting would be that a satisfactory scheme for the pooling of wheat would be adopted. He knew that New Zealand could not grow sufficient wheat for export, but he was sure that it would be in the best interests of growers that there should be a wheat pool formed, more especially for the. sake of the small grower. Mr J. D. Hall, chairman of the minion Executive of the Farmers Union, wrote stating that the suggested scheme-had received their approval. Mr A. M. Carpenter, chairman of the Rangiora branch of the Farmers' Union, said that . his committee had gone fully into various suggested schemes for the forming of a wheat association, and the scheme submitted to the branches- of the Farmers' Union, the articles of which were taken from one in existence in Canada, which from, a growers' point of view had turned out entirely satisfactory. The articles of the proposed scheme were read, after which each clause was discussed at length. Jit was decided that a wheat-growers association be formed, the name of the corporation to be "The New Zealand Wheat-growers' Association," for the purpose of promoting, fostering and encouraging the business of producing and marketing wheat co-operatively; to minimise speculation and waste and stabilise wheat markets, and to handle co-operatively and collectively the problems of wheat-growers. The meeting, which was a very lengthy one (sitting until after 1 a.m.), gave careful consideration to each clause of the articles of association, most of which were approved with slight alterations, a great deal of valuable advice and assistance being given by Mr C. V. Woodfield, who had compiled a mass of information gathered from a visit to Canada last year, and for which he was heartily thanked by the meeting. The concrete proposals were eventually confirmed, and will be submitted to the Wheat Beard for approval. The chairman (Mr Fisher) and Messrs A. M. Carpenter and C. V. Woodfield were appointed a sub-com-mittee to have the articles Properly drafted and corrected before submission to the Wheat Board, and to arrange for a further meeting when necessary. Before* closing the meeting reference was made to the good work of Mr David Jones, M.P., in the interests of the wheat-growers, and he was accorded a vote of appreciation and thanks.