FARMERS SPOILT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 219, 28 June 1947, Page 4

FARMERS SPOILT

NEED TO HELP THEMSELVES GRAIN STORAGE POSITION Remarks by No. 3 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr S. V. Raines) in Ashburton this week urging on farmers a strong effort to avert the deplorable circumstances of wheat sprouting in the bags in the paddocks Avas briefly referred to at the meeting of the Agricultural Section of Federated Farmers yesterday. Mr W. B. Scott raised the matter saying that according to a press report, Mr Raines had given the farmers the cane. He suggested that the secretary should draw up a statement for the press tracing the steps that Federated Farmers had taken to alleviate the position. The organisation had tried to get interested parties together to confer on the matter and had urged an increased increment so as to encourage farmers to store their oavii wheat, but no word had been heard of the result of these representations. Mr Scott held that in fairness to Federated Farmers such a statement should be made. Mr A. D. McLauchlan, who appeared before the Authority this week, contended that it had not been Mr Raines’ Intention to give the farmers the cane. Officers of the Transport Department, both rail and road. Avere not only trying to be helpful but they were trying to do everything possible to help the farmer, he said. It Avas a real eyeopener to see the extent of the evidence placed before the Authority. Time Farmers Acted The trouble, he considered, was that farmers Avere spoiled and not prepared to help themselves enough. It Avas the farmers’ OAvn fault, Avhether they liked it or not. Mr McLauchlan Avas supported by Mr G. H. B. Lill, who said that it was time farmers did something for themselves. It did not take much for farmers to heap their grain and cover it, he continued. Mr J. G. Marshall said that the Rakaia district Avas Avorse off than it had ever been. There Avas not sufficient storage to take the grain groAvn there. Members expressed themselves as having no sympathy for the man who just allowed his grain to stand in the paddock and sprout in the bags. Reference was made to the MidCanterbury Transport Company’s proposal for erection of a grain store in the Rakaia district and the refusal of a permit for the AA’Oflk. Mr A. Amos (chairman) suggested that if the company was still willing to go on with the project the Lauriston branch could set the ball rolling in support by sending forward a remit on the subject. Mr J. G. Hannah (secretary) said that he would approach Mr J. B. Cullen (manager of the company) to ascertain the position. The suggested press statement was not proceeded Avith.