HARM TO WHEAT INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20611, 29 July 1932, Page 12

HARM TO WHEAT INDUSTRY.

PROPAGAN DA RESENTED. I NITY OK GROWERS I KGED. A-iuce --vas giveu if wJieat-groAers a meeting at Hakaia, yesterday by Mr Al.in Grant, a member of the Wheat Marketing BoarJ. to rake an active interest in the sale oi. their product. Mr Grant made the appeal, as he said, ,o view oi the very active opposition .if X'-rth Island merchants to all measures for the safeguarding of ihe wheat ; ndu*try. '•I sLould ike to r.onxl out," said Mr Graut. ''the necessity of wb«at--rowers taking a more active interest r« tho marketing of their produce. One ..-iinju-t fail to note the active propajanda being carried out by a few North Island merchants to damage the wheatgrowing industry, one which finds etnplovment directly or indirectly for IS.OOO to 20.000 men. These merchants sfem to liavo a very powerful organisation and they also use other organisations such as the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to further their interests. •'Evidence of this was brought to notice only a week ago, when a member of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce made certain statements regarding the purchase of wheat in Australia by the Wheat Marketing Board. Those statements were absolutely unfounded and untrue. They were denied by the Hon. JR. Masters, the Minister for Industries and Commerce, who was prominent in sanctioning the importation. The gentleman who made those statements, Mr •jrainor Jackson, is in no way connected with the marketing of wheat. I have it on the very best authority that he is., a crockery merchant iu Auckland—no iells cups and saucers. Such tactics bring home to the wheatgrower the necessity for having Borne Board to represent them and bring before the Prime Minister and Cabinet the true facts. Defence against like statements and types of evil propaganda is needed." (Applause.) WHEAT-GROWERS. MEETING! AT RAKAIA. THE ELECTORAL COMMITTEE. Election of twj) district members to the "Free" "Wheat-growers' Electoral Committee, was the business of a special meeting of "Free" growers held in the Rakaia Hall yesterday afternoon. Mr H. F. Kicoll, of Ashburton, a representative of the "Free" growers on the present Board, was to have addressed the meeting but he was unable U> attend owing to indisposition, and Mr Alan Grant, of Wamate, the other representative of the "Free" growers «n the Board, took his place. Mr P. F. Ryan presided over a representative gathering of growers. Eeferring to the original controversy last year-between the "PooFand "Free" growers concerning the question of representation on the Wheat Marketing Board, Mr Grant said at present the fonr directors were Messrs W. W. Mulholland, James Carr, H. F. Nicoll, and himself. He claimed that the directors had worked together most harmoniously ever since the Board's business had commenced. The point now reached was that it bad been arranged to refer the matter of the election of directors , 4b: the Combined Electoral Committee ! <rf the "Pool" and "Free" growers. At present there were 35 members on the •Pool" Electoral Committee exclusive of directors, and it was necessary to build «p the organsation of the "Free" growers to an equal number. For that mason appointments were being made. Messrs J. C. Irwin, of Mt. Hutt Rural, •ad Mr J. P. Langley, of Rakaia, were elected as the Rakaia district's repre- -■ sentatives on the "Free" Growers/ Electoral Committee. Beprying to a question as to the work «f the Electoral Committees, Mr Grant said that they would "be bodies to which the directors could go for advice in ' making major decisions. For instance, he added, if there was a surplus of 2,800,000 "bushels from the 1932 crop then he would certainly advocate going to the Electoral Committees to secure an opinion concerning the desirability of exporting or otherwise dealing with it. . Mr .Grant said that the Board had done everything possible to be on the safe side, regarding importations. Now Zealand's normal wheat.consumption was estimated at 8,750,000 bushelp. The acreage for 1932 was estimated at 260,000 and taking the probable yield at 25 bushels an acre tho total yield would be 6,500,000 bushels-. The carry-over from 1931 was 500,000 bushels, the nominal imports were 600,000 bushels and tho recent special importation was 850,000 bushels. That gave an aggregate of 8,450,000 bushels which appeared to be well on the safe side. Mr Grant was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his address. ■* PRAIRIE WHEAT. MARKET VALUES INCREASE. (CKHZB PRESS ASSOCIATION—3T mJEGBAPH—COPTBIGHT.) WINNIPEG, July 27. The grain market surged upward again to-day, a* the result of heavy crop export reports, short covering in July futures, and unfavourable crop news. Wheat futures finished 2§ to H cents above Tuesday's closing rates CHICAGO WHEAT. (rSIIBI* ?EBSS ■ ASSOCUTIOJT— BY MJtCTKIO TJBLEOEAPH—COPTBIGHT } NEW YORK, July 27. Chicago wheat prices are quoted as follows: —' July 23rd. July 27th. Cents a bushel. .July .. 46f 50 September .. 4&& ; 'SIJ December .. ulg 54J New York,, cash, tiOJ cents a bushel. SHEEPSKIN SALE. J Pyne. teouid, Guinness, Ltd., held their •veekly sale ye»t«rdsy. Price* follows : j Botchers' abattoir iking, U to 4s 9d; j Butchers* abattoir fcoffsts, Is 54 to 2i.