PRICE OF WHEAT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 38, 24 November 1937, Page 6

PRICE OF WHEAT

INDICATION FOR NEXT YEAR. ABOUT SAME AS COMING CROP. ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER. (Special to the “ Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. It is probable that the price to be paid to farmers for wheat harvested in 1939 will be 5s 9d a bushel, f.o.b. This was foreshadowed yesterday by the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) in a telegram to Air 11. F. Nicoll (president of the United Wheatgrowers, N.Z., Ltd), which Was read at the annual conference of the organisation. In his telegraphed message the Minister said: “Good wishes for the success of your deliberations at to-day’s important meeting of United Wheatgrower representatives. Kindly convey the above message to all present, and inform, through their delegates, all wheatgrowers that present conditions, as well as facts recently disclosed by my personal investigation, give me solid reasons for believing that the price for the 1938-39 crop will be about the same as that recently announced for the coming harvest. “I am making this announcement early in order that wheat farmers may know in plenty of time what to expect, and in doing so I. express the hope that the acreage next year will be increased greatly and provide a sufficient yield for the Dominion’s full requirements during the year 1938-39. I realise that a much greater acreage would have been planted this year had it not been for the abnormally adverse weather conditions, the detrimental results of which I saw personally when I recently inspected the wheat areas. Please convey to the growers my great appreciation and thanks for the many kindnesses and courtesies extended to me during that visit to their farms.” “Fair and Reasonable.” The Alinister’s message was in reply to the following resolution which had been communicated, to him earlier in the day: “That this meeting of the electoral committee of United AVheatgrowers, representing all wheatgrowers of New Zealand, expresses its thanks to the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) for his efforts on behalf of the wheatgrowing industry, and olfers its co-operation in all the problems confronting him from time to time in connection with the control scheme. The electoral committee believes that the price fixed for 1938 is fail; and reasonable; and that the wheat and flour control scheme is the best yet devised and admirable for its purpose. The meeting desires to assure the Minister that the short acreage sown this season is not due to any lack of effort on part of the wheatgrower. The committee wishes to thank the Atinister for sympathy and the co-operation of his officers in the Department of Industries and Commerce.

THE MOISTURE CONTENT. A FACTOR IN PURCHASE PRICE. (Special to the “ Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. An important announcement involving the adoption of a new principle, that of payment for wheat on moisture content, was made yesterday by the chairman (Air H. F. Nicoll) at the annual meeting of the electoral committee of United AVheatgrowers (N.Z.), Ltd. The Wheat Committee* had, he said, taken a great step forward in its decision to adopt a system whereby moisture content was to be taken into consideration in the purchase of wheat. The* proposals, which were to come into force with next year’s harvest, had been heartliy endorsed by the electoral committee before being finally adopted. “Uur attitude in this matter,” continued Air Nicoll, “should remove any suggestion that wheatgrowers are apathetic concerning the condition of their wheat and we are prepared to stand behind the AVlieat Committee in its efforts to improve the quality of wheat, flour, and bread.” The system to be adopted will provide as follows:

(a) The maximum moisture content for flour be fixed at 15 per cent. (b) Wheat may be delivered up to 15.5 per cent, moisture content without any adjustment in price, but that where wheat contains more than the 15.5 per cent, an adjustment as provided below must be made. The method of tost to be the CarterSimon process, and any dispute in regard to moisture content to be referred to tin 1 Wheat Research Institute, whose decision shall bo final. (c) For wheat containing between 15. G per cent, to 10.5 per cent, of moisture a deduction of Id a bushel shall be made and millers shall be prohibited from accepting and farmers from delivering as f.a.q. milling quality any wheat containing more than 10.5 per cent, moisture. No allowance for dockage will bemade to the miller, but the Id a bushel will be retained by the Wheat Committee, provided that it will be permissible for millers to dry wheat on behalf of the grower to the requisite moisture content, charging the grower for same and purchasing the wheat on the basis of 15 per cent, moisture content. Millers will be given warrants only on condition that they sign an undertaking to deduct the abovementioned!' dockage and not to accept wheat of more than 16.5 per cent, moisture.