THE WHEAT QUESTION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18636, 10 March 1926, Page 11

THE WHEAT QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR OP "THE PRESS." Sir,—With reference to the much discussed wheat question, I ask for space to offer the following suggestions, though I am not now a wheat-grower,, but have been of some 50 years standing : wheats lit for milling purposes at nearest railway stations this year should have been 7s 3d per bushel, and lor the next two following years 'is per oiishei. xhe grower to enter into a contract with the Government, or any other private individual to select a proportion of his land fit for wheatgrowing, and to put the wheat in in a nusbanainan-hke manlier, and the Government on April Ist and October Ist to pay all rents plus 25 per cent, in the case of leasehold, and in the case of freehold 6 per cent, on Government valuation of land, plus 25 per cent. Oh December Ist the Government to decide whether the crop is worth harvesting or not. If in the affirmative the Government to pay 15s per acre for harvesting. If not, to. notify the grower that the Government have abandoned ownership to it, and forfeit their rent and all moneys paid for that guarantee. When wEeat is fit for threshing and delivery, all wheat to be delivered to nearest railway station for Government. The Government then to pay within 10 _ days of delivery on the basis of 7s per bushel for all milling wheat received 4ess what they have paid out, less 2£ per cent, for risk and administrative charges. This would still harmonise with Mr Gould's suggestion of bonus to wheat-growers. The Government would stand to lose, in the event of failure, rent and interest. Jhe public 'would thus share the risk 'with the farmer of failure, and the scheme would redound to the benefit of all concerned, and would be a great relief to many young farmers now struggling with burdens of finance, and soon fill the country with wheat'. Of course. 1 leave the Government and the millers to arrange prices'between themselves. I append the following figures: — 50 acres wheat at 30 bushels per acre, 1500 bushels at 75—£525, or 2J- per cent., or 2d per bushel, £l3 2s 6d. Thus the Government would find approximately £lO4 7a 6d, and receive £ll7 10s: or pro rata on what the grower «hould grow on Government limit.—i Yours, etc., J. T. BLAKEMORE. Christchurch, 3farch 9th.