THE WHEAT MARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16, 20 January 1926, Page 9

THE WHEAT MARKET.

I GROWERS REJECT CONTROL. A HIGHER DUTY ASKED. ' .By Telegraph. —Press Association. I ASHBURTON. Tuesday. . j A free market for wheat with an I I increased duty on imported flour was . I the decision of the conference of wheat ' growers. representing all parts or ."Canterbury, held here to-day. When . • the proceedings opened tinder the i-riair- . : manshiD of Mr. John Brown, president : : of the Mid-Canterbury exccuti". ? of ::*.e _ i Farmers' Union. 53 delegates were pre- . j sent, the, number being increased later :I to 110. The meeting lasted four and ' , a-half hours, every a.-pec; of the subject •'• being discussed. ?' Mr. G. W. Clinkard. representing the - ! Department of Industries and Commerce. - ' said that if they now wanted to reverse : i the position the Government would pro- ' bably no: enforce control. ? ' Tae chairman said a 2>:>d deal hinged "ion the proposal to increase the duties. 1i It was a matter for Parliament, and not ir..., ■ . . , , 'Cao.net. and so this/eason - wheat could " j not be affected. It had been suggested " j that the conference to-day would agree '| to control, with toe pr re* in Teasel. " ! The suggested prices. 7 '2, 7/4 and ; IS. wouid mean an inerea-e of i± to It 210 in the price of flour, but the I Mini-ten had stated definitely that he ■on! i no: agree to control at prices ; above those of trie May agreement. If tl.ey had ::'• c trade with duties there { would be no embargo. ! After a deal < : jl-ct-s'on ': wa|roo\cd: — '"That, as the Government has. _ I refused to take t . :.;.--.. after r,»i- -cn^-jti. _.".:...- growers ask :'. r a market free of U-'Ctio this year, a::.': that the present Jut .es on w icr. : |.c retained." " ! In rep.. : . a ■;-; -tinn. Mr. Clinkard j -rated t ,i: A-jrti al:an wheat landed a: i Auckland would cost > 7*. sacks in. " j with duty. Flour could be landed for ! il s lo . including duty. Mr. larr. Met.,\en. averred that if ' j they rejected control the-.- won!.; set a I free market, but the duties would not go i on. and they would be at the nierev of _ ( speculators and trie miller-. He did not . i t.iitik t..ey could get an increase in the . i out.e-. and or warned them against I drop; ing the substance to grab the „ ishadow. . I In tae course of further discussion Mr. • Leadiey asked: ""How do we know- we | are going to get a better price or a free i market?" It was only because they ■ I thoug.it they could pet more for their ; i wheat that' they did not now want : contro'. i- l. y did go iiack on their | agreement, t ... miller- w ild not be s I inclined .o -- " them in future. >j Final'y. .' - motion was carried in 1 . two parts, the first asking for a free -•j market, and the second that an extra I i! "£-*'' ton be placed on imported flour i i __J _ i A CLOSED CONFERENCE. | I REGULATIONS TO BE DRAFTED. j 'By Teleeraph.—Press Association) |j '-'HRISTCHURCH. this day. ' I A conremice of representatives of ■ i millers. merchants and growers conI vened by the Departmental Industries and Commerce, is beini: held at Christ- | church to-day to consider and draft I regulations in the event of the control ii of wheat nr.ces. and also what steps. l| if any. should he taken if the (;o\ern--5 J ment derides to allow a free market • ; th.s season. 'Hie proceedings are no; • ; open to the press.