SUBSIDY FOR WHEAT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24815, 4 March 1946, Page 4

SUBSIDY FOR WHEAT

PRICE DISCUSSED BY GERALDINE FARMERS From Our Own Reporter GERALDINE, March 2.

Wheat, prices were discussed at a meeting of Geraldine Federated Farmers last night, and a remit was carried urging the payment of a graduated bonus according to the value of the land. Major-General R. E. Barker: The policy seems most grim. We pay high prices for imported wheat which is urgently wanted in other countries. If they split the difference between the New Zealand price and the imported wheat at 12s 8d there would be no need to import wheat at all.

Mr R. E. Mcllwrick: The Minister said that the Wheat Committee had been asked to put their case before the Stabilisation Committee, but had refused to do it.

A member: The committee say they have submitted figures until they are sick of it, and that thgy are not going to submit any more. Mr G. E. Gumbrell: I believe the unions have held the gun at the Government’s head and have threatened that “if the wealthy farmer gets 10 per cent., they will want 10 per cent, too.”

Mr Gilbert Slater: The last two wheat seasons have been disastrous: the first from the point of view of harvest, and the second from the sowing point of view. A good price would be some compensation for two bad years. A 30-bushel crop at the present price is not a handsome thing. Mr H. Mallinson: I believe we should keep quiet and let the wheatgrower decide whether he will grow it or not. If we can’t grow sufficient wheat, we will havezto import it. and if we can’t import it someone will have to go short. We will get action then. Mr Mcllwrick: I cannot understand the attitude of the Government •to wheat. If a farmer with good land makes much, it is adjusted through the Income Tax Department. Mr Bruce said that it was the man on the marginal land who must produce the extra wheat. Mr C. W. Lynn said that when marginal land grew wheat the price was not high enough and farmers did not put anything back. This land would not grow the wheat to-day. Figures read showed that the wheat acreage in 1936 was 248.639, and thatit rose to 258.002 acres in 1942 It dropped to 183,886 acres in 1945.