FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15158, 23 December 1914, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

NOSTH CANTERBURY EXECUTIVE.

Tho North Canterbury Executive of tbo Farmers' Union mot yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs C. H. Ensor (president). Geo. Sheat, Isaac Andrews, C. Benjamin, J. Foster, G. S. Newton, and A. J. Bell. THE PRICE OF WHEAT. Tho Prime Minister wrote that tbo Executive's representations regarding the fixing of the price of wheat were noted, and would recoivo duo consideration. Tho chairman said that at the time tho price of wheat was fixed by tho Government most of the small farmers had sold out. and tho wheat, was in tho bauds of speculators or millers, and possibly sumo largo farmer?. Last soason's wheat was sold mostly at 3g 3d or 3s ' 4*l. As regards the price, of next season's they must see that tho email farmer was protected, and they must protest against a. price being fixed that, would bo detrimental to tho small farmer, who should receive as a standard price tho price on tho world's markets. Ho noted that in Australia all the wheat w*us being commandeered at ss. There "had been a small crop in Australia, and tho farmers had been working at half-price. The Farmers' Union was loyal, and it had shown its loyalty, but in tho present instance it dosiral to protect tho weaker members j of the Union. I Mr Sh'cat said there wa s two sides to the question. They did not want to fatten on tho woes of tho nation. As farmers they were patriotic, and thes- had. evidenced that lact. Jt was: sakl <>f the man with his labour to soil . that ho sold it i" tho best market, and j tho s-aino applied to tho tanner j and his produce. As Britishers, how- ; ever, they wanted to rise- to tho j occasion and not fatten on the nocossi- j ties of tho people. If the Government guaranteed .">s 3d per bushel rethought there would be nothing to grumble about. llu denied tho statement tiiat farmers isi his district wre holdiiijj whertt. There might bo someheld by a man at Methven, but he was not a' Mateevita —he belonged to tho j other faction—and ho (Mr Sheat) did j not know it he held any quantity, or jl j the quantity he held was out ot pro- ■ portion to the total he grew. As ro the now season's whett, would not its , prico bo fixed under the present regu- j tatioii ? ; The chairman said that as U> many , of tho crops coming on now they would j be only half crops. j Mr bheat said that lie iiad said tliat as far as he could judge .the wheni> I crop in the whole of Canterbury would j not go 20 bushel* to tho acre, and m conversation with fanners they to!d him | that they believed ho had been too high . in his estimate. Tho only place where J ho had soen wheat worth i home about" was on the banks of the ■ Wainiakariri : on the heavier lauds the crop were lighter. They had d> face tho fact that they were up against a food shortage for themselves*: he did j not believe that the wheat grown in New Zealand would be sufficient for the people of the Dominion. That was a deplorable eta to of things, and it was due to the unrest between capital and labour, which was turning Xc.v .Zealand into a cheep-walk. They had to thank God that tlioy had a far- j seeing statesman at the head of affairs J who had decided to import wheat from ] Canada. It was a degrading position j for New Zealand to be in to have to j go to another country for food for its j people. He allege! that more thai: . the standard price was being obtained | at present—wheat being .«oki vi '

tho prico fixed, but an exorbitant charge being made for tho sacks. Mr Newton' moved, "That tho Government be approached and requested to sop that the .standard price of wheat should not apply to the new crop, and that tho price should be that of the world's markets, plus tho cost of transport in the event of a shortage." The wheat being imported, he said, would co<t moro than os '.id por bushel, and unless the standard price were raised the small man in New Zeaalnd would bo hit hard. Tin* fanners might bo accused of attempting to make, their fortunes but that was not so. Tho point wa-s that the crop was so bad last season that the fanner should be given an opportunity to make up for it. Mr Andrews seconded, and said that ihf> price in New Zealand should bo ruled by tho prico in the world's mar- ! kocs. Ho know that the statement that wheat had been .sold a* moro than 5s 'M could be proved—even fowl wheat had boon sold at that price. Flo did j not think that the Now Zealand fanner I should bo called upon to sell wheat sit ; a lower price than the American far- i mer. who could produce at a cheaper rate, and who would be probably getting 7.s Gil per bushel. Why should the New Zealand fanner offer to take a less price when the crop had not paid during the last three or four years, when only 3s 3d or 3s -kl was received. The letter was received, and tho motion was agreed to. OTHER MATTERS. ! Mrs wrote thanking the Executive tor its condolences with her over the Jα-.* of her son at tho front. Mr F. 11. Laba-tt. secretary of the Canterbury Srheepownerv Union, wroto that tLo question of giving preference to shearers , trained at the Technical College was rweivirtg attention.. Mr Hell said that .satisfactory arrangements would be mad<> on the raattor next year. It, was dot-Mod to rotor to the branches the jmip.-jxal to preet a weiiihbridge for pigs at tht« Addington saleTh... are to be asked to what extent they will support tho propo-sai, »