The Press Monday, January 17, 1927. The Wheat Problem.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18901, 17 January 1927, Page 10

The Press Monday, January 17, 1927. The Wheat Problem.

A few months ago the Farmers' Union was considering the formation of a private wheat pool, in order to protect tho wheat-growers against compulsion to sell wheat at less than a fair market price. There have been many meetings, but it is now quite clear that tho Union never had its heart in the work, for at the conference of growers at Ashburton on Friday there was no Word of a selling pool, but only a number of shouts for help. The final result of the conference was the carrying of two resolutions, one Urging Cabinet, in perfectly general terms, to "uphold an industry which is abao* " lutely essential to tho welfare of the " whole- of New Zealand," and tho other proposing n combined meeting of wheat-growers, merchants, millers, Chambers of Commerce, and A. and F< Associations to discuss the position of the Wheat industry and arrange for United action in support of it. This Is hot Hkely to bring great cheer to tho hearts of the wheat-groWeTs, who will perhaps think themselves con* denined to suffer continued exploitation by hostile interests. There is Something to be said for the granting 6f higher tariff protection to the New Zealand millers; there would be more to be said for it if thei'e could be any guarantee that the millers would share the advantage with tho wheat-growers. This guarantee has floVSr been asked for or offered, and tho growers might have done better If they had devoted their energy to asking for protection for themselves, leaving tho millers to take care of the milling industry, as the millers flflfl easily do if they choose. It is extraordinary that tho fanners of Canterbury should allow themselves, through thosa who 6peak for them, to bear other people's burdens. They have been fighting hard for the millers, and tho other day their spokesmen fell in with the suggestion that they should even fight for the manufacturers. It is time they fought for themselves. Perhaps the millers, the pOttltfymfen, and the North Island dairymen and pig-breeders, not to mention the Socialist organisations, will prevent the Government from imposing an effective duty on wheat, but the farmers ought at least to put their ease strongly before the Government* In the meantime, it is worth Consider" ing whether those who (San speak fol' the farming community should not flak the Government to fix an export bounty on all primary products. This., Would not help the farmers in respect of their wheat—whioh could be dealt with separately by means of a bonus on production, such as Mr George Gould originally suggested—but most wheat* growers produce lamb and mutton and wool and butter-fat. Such fi bounty would provide for the primary producers a protection similar in effect to the high tariff, that protects our secondary industries. Nobody can find r any good ground for opposing such a bounty who is in favour of a high tariff on imported manufactures. \ This plajtt Ib certainly One which should be considered by the conference which is to be arranged by the Mid-Canterbury i Executive of the Farmers' Union.