IN WHEAT AND FLOUR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 103, 12 February 1936, Page 3

IN WHEAT AND FLOUR.

DEPENDENT ON TWO FACTORS. STATEMENT BY Mli H. F. NICOLE. A statement regarding the new wheat and flour price schedules was released by the chairman of United Wheatgrowers (N.Z.) (Mr H. F. Nicoil) this morning'. He holds that new rates will make for a great improvement in the wheat-growing industry. “The points that wheat-growers will bo considering are the price we will receive for our wheat, the increased cost of growing it, and the security of the protection of the wheat’industry,” said Mr Nicoil. . The extent of the increase in price will he dependent upon two factors: Firstly, whether in any year it should be found necessary to export wheat, in which event world prices would have to be accepted for the export surplus, and as in 1933, the price so obtained would go to the credit or debit of the growers’ account. “Secondly, upon the balance obtained from the bran and pollard equalisation fund; since that scheme came into being in 1933 there has always been a credit balance to be transferred to growers’ account, and this although the price of New Zealand bran and pollard has always been kept below the price at which Australian bran and pollard could be landed duty and primage free. “Bran and pollard prices under this scheme will not be increased'"beyond today’s quotations, despite the fact that to-day Australian quotations warrant a substantial rise in New Zealand. “The Minister has made it plain that there will be no increase, and wheatgrowers will realise the wisdom of checking the upward trend of the cost of bran and pollard for the benefit of the poultry-keeper. “This season growers will benefit by the elimination of their contribution to the North Island flour subsidy, which last year cost them about 2kl a bushel over the whole crop. “The increased cost of growing wheat depends upon so many factors that cannot bo determined over a period, that it is impossible to decide to what extent the increased price to be paid to the wheat-growers will benefit them in the future, but as the Minister has stated, the average price for this season’s wheat should return to the grower about ojd a bushel over the average price for the last three sea? sons, and this, together with the security guaranteed against any interference with the protection afforded to growers, must be counted as a solid improvement in. the status of the industry and an encouragement to increase the wheat acreage.”