THE WHEAT SUPPLY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15774, 15 December 1916, Page 8

THE WHEAT SUPPLY.

CONFERENCE OF PRODUCERS. CROP OFFERED TO GOVERXMEXT. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Minister of Agriculture and President of the Board of Trade, arrived in town yesterday morning in connexion with the important conference with wheatgrowers, which was opened at the Provincial Council Chambers at 11 a.m., and also to transact a considerable quantity of other business. Mr Macdonald first of all received a deputation from the members of tho Board of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce, a business that- was not open to the Press, and then went over to the Council Chambers, where the invited delegates had assembled for tho purpose of discussing the vital subject of the wheat industry with the Minister.

It was announced that this conference also was private. The names of those who wore invited to bo present at the Wheat Conference. aro as follows:—

The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Minister of Agriculture and President of the Board of Trade, etc.. and Messrs W. G. McDonald. J. P. Hart. P. Halley, J. W. Collins (secretary of the Board of Trade), and Mr F. S. Pope (Secretary of Agriculture). The delegates to the Wheat Conference were: (Timaru district): Messrs J. Anstcv, M.P., J. Craigic, M.P., Barnett, J. Hay, McCullough, and Macpherson. (Gore district): Messrs G. J. Anderson, M.P., E. Butlcrt E. Bowman, G'. Hunter, and 11. Smith. (Rangiora): Hon. D. Buddo, M.P., and Messrs J. Catherwocd, A. Macintosh. J. Stevenson and J. Smith. Dunedin): Mr J. M. Dickson, M.P., and Messrs C. Findlay and W. Wedge. (Selwyn): Mr W. J. Dickie, M.P., and Messrs J. C. Allen, T. Doherty, J. M Hampton, and W. Harrison. (Cheviot): Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., and Messrs T. H. Wilkinson, W. Skurr, D. Hawke, and B. Hampton. (Balclutha): Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P., and Messrs Dallas, J. Christie, .T. Rendall, and J. Murnev. (Oamaru): Messrs W. McMillan. P. J. Callaghan, B. Meek, and G. Livingstone. (Ashburton): Mr W. Noswortliy, M.P., and Messrs J. Cairns. Colonel Mackenzie, A. Drummond, and J. Bruce. (Tai Tapn): Colonel the Hon. R. H. Rhodes, M.P. (Ranfurlv): Mr Scott, M.P. (Temuka): Mr * Chas. Talbot, M.P.. and Messrs T. Manchester, J. Patterson, and J. Talbot. (Riverton): Mr J. C. Thompson, M.P., and 'Mr J. Shand. (lticcarton): Mr G. Witty. M.P., and Messrs W. Jenkins, E. McLennan, R.. Reid, and P. Ryan. (Members of Parliament): Messrs H. G. Ell, M.P., L. M. Isitt M.P., J. McCombs, Dr. H. T. Tliacker, M.P. (Board of Agriculture): Messrs R. C. Orbell and A. H. Hunt. (Council of Agriculture): Messrs H. A. Knight, G. A. Macdonald, J. Macpherson, J. Turnbull, and D. G. Wright. (Farmers' Union): Mr G. W. Lead ley. (Chamber of Commerce): Mr H. S. Bourne. (North Canterbury Farmers' Union): Messrs R. Evans and W. Bailey.

The discussion at the conference lasted all the morning, and it is understood that though the Minister did not make any direct proposals to the growers, lie intimated that the Government recognised that something would have to be done in connexion with, the wheat industry, and it was prepared to consider any proposals that the conference made.

The opinion of tho delegates was practically unanimous that the Government should take over the entire wheat crop of the Dominion, and it \ras resolved that the "wheat-growers would undertake to grow the wheat necessary, and offer it to the Government, provided a satisfactory price oould be arranged, and that sufficient labour was forthcoming. An important suggestion was also •made that the Government should take over the control of the wheat, right up to the time it was converted into bread6tuffs, the idea being that by this means undue* could bo prevented in getting the bread into the hands of consumers. At the conclusion of the conference a committee was elected, consisting of representatives from each district to discuss what would be a fair price for the growers to ask for their wheat.. This was eventually agreed upon, and submitted to the Minister, but-not publicly disclosed. Mr Macdonakl will consult with the Board of Trade on the offer, and their recommendations will be forwarded to Cabinet. Later in the day Mr Mac Donald received a deputation from the local Wool Committee, which was set tip to look after growers' interests in the matter of the <x)iriTTiar>deering of the Dominion's clip by the Imperial Government. This* deputation is also private. The Minister returned to Wellington, "by last night's ferry steamer. JAPANESE FLOUR. IMPORTATION FEARED. Settlers, farmers, artisans, and all kinds of industrial labour: what we may expect if our shortsighted Board of Trade's freetrade policy, with a flavouring of single tax, is given effect to. It is a wonder, or possibly an oversight, that it didn't repeal the Alien poll tax as well as the duty on flour. Tho Board of Trade spent some time North on the "fencing'' question, so be prepared for the menace of foreign flour. "The following letter has been received bv Mr P. Virtue, manager of the Milling Co., Auckland, from Mr W. j Dunbar, flour broker, Hongkong, dated November 10th, 191(5:— "I have just returned from a trip to Japan, where we spent a month pleasantly, and during that time I visited one of the large flour mills, which turns out 150 tons per day, and is now being increased to 200 tons. It was a modern i>)ant. with one American miller in charge, all the work being done bv natives, and it is well done. The miil had 10,000 tons of wheat piled up. This was drawn from Japan, Corca, and North China. While the wheat from Japan is small and dirty, that from Manchuria and North China is very fair, and I think m time will make itself felt in' the world's markets. They export now abo\i '2.000,G00 tons of l>eans every year. No doubt they will increase their wheat in due time. Japan is now selling flour in London made from Chinese wheat, and getting £18 per ton for it. Not bad for a start. "P.S.—The freight to London from Japan is between £6 and per ton." G