WHEAT PRICES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25091, 24 January 1947, Page 5

WHEAT PRICES

Sir. I have followed with interest your correspondents’ latest arguments reiterating much that is stale and overlooking the fact that the price paid for wheat overseas has little or n H neXi ° n With ‘ hat Paid ‘° N ew Zealand growers. These fortunate farmers, through their representatives, agreed to accept 7s Id a bushel as a minimum covering two seasons, pending their proven case for a higher figure. Moreover, the wheatgrower will retain this liberal protection in the event of a serious recession in world wheat prices: quite a happy position, don’t you think? In any case, Mr Farmer cannot have it both ways, and your correspondents overlook the fact that 7s Id is a very payable price. —Yours, etc., „ VERITAS. January 22, 1947.

Sir, —I quote “Remembrance’s” figures for wheat grown in England, where labour and costs are lower than in New Zealand. The British farmer gets for his wheat Ils B|d a bushel and £4 an acre bonus for the impoverishment of his soil. When we read “Le Temps's” statement that our farmers are content with 7s Id we can only say “crackers.” For our requirements of imported wheat £6,000,000 at least would have to be sent out of the country. Why not keep this in our own land and encourage our farmers to grow our own wheat? Had our farmers been offered a reasonable price, they would have taken the risk of spring sowing this year. They have to live, and cannot conduct a losing business all the time.—Yours, etc., BALANCE FACTS. January 23. 1947.