FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20381, 30 October 1931, Page 12

FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

MARKETING OF WHEAT. SCHEME ENDORSED. MR MULHOLLAND REPLIES TO CRITICISM. VIhETIM, AT MUNSANDSL. .Following an address by tiie eii&irnian of directors (Mr W. W. Mulholland) ? a • meeting of over 40 wheat-growers of ■ Dunsandel, including both free growers and members of the Pool, unanimously endorsed last evening the scheme for the marketing of wheat drawn up by the New Zealand Wheat-growers' Asgociation in conjunction with the millers. In his address, Mr Mulholland dealt particularly with the criticism of the scheme which had been advanced by Mr H. P. Nicoll and other free growers. He wa3 warmly applauded, and the meeting left no, doubt of its approval of his work in the interest of the body of wheat-growers. The meeting was called at the Dunsandel Hall, by the local branch of the Farmers' Union, and the chairman (Mr .T. H. Skinner) presided. Mr Mulholland thanked the TJnion for the opportunity of meeting its members. He then delivered an address on the wheat situation, almost identical with that fully reported in The Press 1 yesterday. He dealt particularly with the constitution and objects of the Wheat Marketing Board, which he proposed as the only practicable means of governing next season's surplus crop. It was of the greatest importance' that the Board should be exactly balanced between millers and growers. The directorate would be appointed equally by each of these two parties. The chairman "would have no casting vote, so , that all decisions would have to be •' reached by negotiation and mutual agreement. If a third party came to the Board the balance would be lost. ■ Thus while stock firms had very con- ; siderable interests, they could hardly be given representation on the Board.

Reply to Criticism. Mr Mulholland replied to the counter- , proposals put ■ forward by Mr H. F. ' Nicoll and his committee. It would be most unwise to proceed with any sug- , gestion which made possible a division i among the growers' representatives. The I interests of the stock firms would be .much better protected by the Board, • even when they had no representation, ! on it, than if there were no scheme in ; operation. Recently Mr Nicoll had ! made statements which were incorrrect and which were likely to cause dissension among the growers. These statej ments had been made at several meeti ings not in reference to any special business but apparently just to stir up | a kind of "class feeling" among the | growers. For instance, he had quoted ! Mr Mulholland as saying that the : scheme "would put the free growerß in | their place." Mr Mulholland denied i making such a statement; further, he | denied that there was any such vindie- | tive intention. The only object of I criticism of that kind was to stir np | partisan feeling and to make the free • growers feel hurt and angry. "At this stage of our work, we can't ; afford to have doubt and dissension i among the growers such as these state-. ; ments create," urged Mr Jdulholland. ' "I want to ask everyone, to refrain j from making statements which are ■ likely to cause differences between •i members of the Association and free i growers. If we fall into the way of quarrelling, it is going to be very expensive for us. Indeed, if any considerable dissension is caused, it is almost certain that np agreement will be possible. But apart from that, we should all stand together in our own interests." The scheme was complete in itself, and involved no liabilities or responsibilities of any other scheme. Assessing the Association's position, he mentioned that it had handled 41.04 per cent, of the total wheat available in Ganterbury and Otag'o this season. Delivery to be Prompt. Answering questions, Mr Mulholland said that under the scheme it was intended to take fairly prompt delivery of the wheat. At the same time they might not be able to take such a rapid delivery as in the past two or three years. It was probably in growers' interests that the delivery should be spread a little more evenly. The scheme would not be able to handle the wheat as rapidly as'the Pool had been able to deal with surpluses in the past. Mr B. J. Riches: I would like to ask if this chap who has so much to criticise has had any hand in constructing the agreement?—No, "he has had no hand in constucting it, and actually : neither he nor his committee have contribnted to it. To-day the position is that we just have to go ahead and get the agreement completed in time for next season's harvest without having any chaos at the start. Mr Mulholland explained to another questioner that the Board would be the servant of the growers and would therefore- be expected to accept the agreement. They had put the scheme before the growers everywhere, and no serious criticism of it had been offered. . The Board was established simply to administer the agreement Mr G. H. Judd: Without consulting the free growers? :•? "That is why we are holding these meetings to bring the agreement before all growers," replied Mr Mulholland. "I greatly regret that Mr Nicoll and his committee, who claimed to represent the free growers, have failed to make a full examination of it. Mr Nicoll has had the opportunity of going into the agreement, and at several meetings he has declared it to be satisfactory. At the same time if there is any serious ■objection to the scheme it will not be gono on with. We are not trying to force anything on to you, but. merely to consult you in a critical time." Mr E. McPherson (manager for the Association) pointed Out that Mr Mul- ! Holland had now addressed 1200 growers in different paxts of the province. _ Mr A. A McLachlan .emphasised that the agreement was of paramount importance and must be pushed ahead. It i did;not seem wise to carry further any I I disputes between the -Association and ike frea grower*, '

"The Only Way Out." There was no provision made for dealing with a deadlock, Baid Mr Mulholland, but as far as possible all questions which might lead, to a deadlock had been dealt with in the agreement itself. "The scheme seems to me the only way out, following the lines of pools in other countries," said Mr N. J. Brown. "We must push it ahead and avoid a deadlock, for there are other interests at work. For instance, our position is regarded very jealously in the North Island at the present time. The agreement is a vital necessity to all of us, and I think we should have no hesitation in giving it our support." Mr M. J. Scott claimed that no possible harm could arise by admitting stock firms to the Board, provided it was declared that a majority must contain representatives of each party. "I have other information which I cannot make public, but which makes it clear that stock firms could not be given representation," replied Mr Mulholland. Mr Judl agreed that their common object was to serve the wheat-growers as a whole. The chief stumbling block at present was the method of electing the Board. He had made a suggestion that all factions should meet in an attempt to solve their difficulties on this point. He would not like the meeting to think that there was an insuperable division between the free growers and the Pool. He was sure that their difficulties would be amicably overcome. Mr Mulholland said that Mr Nicoll and his committee were so bound by instructions that at previous conferences they could not advaince much. He feared that when they met again, he would be faced with a series of resolutions from different places which would make free discussion impossible. "I think that he is getting into an impossible position," said Mr Mulholland. "One cannot negotiate if one party has instructions to do something or to do nothing." Mr Mulholland asked Mr Judd to convey this situation to Mr Nicoll. Close to Settlement. "Our last meeting closed with Mr Nicoll's statement that he was bound, and could not proceed further," he added. "If the conference had continued another hour, I am sure we would ■ have been together. But unfortunately it seems that the same position will arise again. In'general, provided that the growers' representation is not divided, we will be satisfied. There are half a dozen ways of dealing with the situation, but if Mr Nicoll comes to a conference with his hands tied the position is hopeless." "1 think Mr Nicoll is taking the wrong course altogether," said Mr D. Mulholland. "Mr Nicoll's meetings are only of free growers, not open to all growers, as these meetings are. He goes along with his resolutions typed and gets them passed by the free growers. I hope Mr Judd will use his commonsense on Mr Nicoll." This remark was warmly applauded. Mr Judd said that he was attending the meeting as a wheat-grower, and not as a representative of the free growers. His endeavour was to bring all parties together without difference of opinion. The circumstances were extraordinary, and without the sliding scale the growers were lost. Mr \V. W.' Mulholland had done wonderful work for the farmer; it just happened that on this occasion they did not see eye to evo. The Scheme Endorsed. , Mr McLaehlan: It seems to me that; what you want is not a good stock man, but a good stock whip. A voice: With you at the end oi it. As a free grower, Mr Riches congratulated Mr Mulholland and his associates on their work for the growers. Mr McLaehlan moved that the scheme as outlined should be endorsed and that the earliest possible steps should be taken to have the agreement completed. ' Mr Riches seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. Mr Mulholland was given a hearty vote of thanks for his address.

WHEAT DUTIES. *!* AN AUCKLAND COMMENT. (PREPS , ASSOCIATION TELE3BAH ) , AUCKLAND, October 29. "While the Associated Chambers of Commerce conference is designated the" businessmen's Parliament, it is rear sonable to expect that those attending it should have sufficient business sense to refrain from adopting the vexatious practices of distorting and settling by means of lobbying rather than by discussion on their merits questions brought before it." These remarks were made by Mr A. G. Lunn at the Chamber of Commerce meeting to-day in expressing the utmost dissatisfaction with the manner in which Auckland's remit on the wheat duties was treated at the conference. He said every possible method had been adopted to nullify the remit. Auckland's only satisfaction was that the tactics adopted must indicate a very weak case m favour of the retention of the wheat duties or even of their modification as proposed next year.

ONION-GROWERS.

REQUEST FOR PROTECTION. (PJUI3» JJSOCII.TIO* T*MSRA3T> WELLINGTON, October 29. A doputation of New Zealand oniongrowers asked the Minister for Customs, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, to-day for additional protection against the importation of Australian onions. It was suggested that there should be a sliding scale of protection or a prohibition of importations during th© flush of the New Zealand season. The New Zealand growers' position had been vitally affected by the exchange position. . _ Replying, the Minister said that under the reciprocal trade agreement with Australia six months' notice of alteration was necessary. He had had several requests recently from growers of cherries, cucumbers, and other fruits and vegetables for protection, and .he did not know where they were getting to. It Beemed that no product could stand on its own feet. A large number of people were growing restive about the increased duties and there had been a general demand, for a writing down of the tariff. He would consult the Controller of Customs and the Minister for Agriculture, but he could not promise anything, as there always were two sides to a story. The position vould be investigated.

DAIRY PRODUCE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London office, under date October 28th:— Butter —119s-to 120s. Firm. ' . Cheese—Ms t* 69a.