WHEAT PRICE FOR 1948

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25303, 1 October 1947, Page 8

WHEAT PRICE FOR 1948

GROWERS’ HIGHER COSTS EARLY APPROACH TO MINISTER Wheatgrowers’ increased costs in relation to the wheat price for 1948 will be discussed by the directors of United Wheatgrowers (N.Z.), Ltd., with the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer). At the annual meeting of the electoral committee yesterday, when 37 members were present, the directors were urged to lose no time in taking up the question of the increased costs, allowarice for which it has already been agreed, should be added to the 1948 price.

The chairman (Mr R. T. McMillan) said in his address to the meeting that the Government’s decision to lift subsidies on a large number of items used in farming would have very farreaching consequences for the primary producer. Because of the agreement reached by the costs committee, and approved by the Economic Stabilisation Commission, the wheatgrower was in a sound position to have his costs fully met. The wheatgrowers’ representatives on the committee would be taking up such matters as the extra charge for usage of sacks, the increased cost of superphosphate, higher railage charges, and increased wages. Mr McMillan said that this year’s wheat crop was from a very small acreage, but the yield of 37J bushels an acre was one of the highest average yields on record and gave a total weight of more than 5,000,000 bushels. This, in addition to the balance of the wheat purchased from Australia for delivery in 1946 and the 4,500,000 bushels being the 1947 portion of the contract, would give sufficient wheat to carry the country through. “The price paid Tor the wheat purchased for delivery in’ 1946, about 2,000,000 bushels of which was not delivered until our 1947 year, was 9s 6d, sacks extra, f.o.b. Australian ports,” said Mr McMillan. “The price of the balance of* the contract, which is now being drawn upon is 5s 9d, sacks extra, f.o.b. Australian ports, and this portion of the contract covers 13,500,000 bushels spread over the years up to and including 1950.” An appeal for increased production to aid Britain was made by Mr McMillan, who said that in helping Britain the people were helping themselves, because they were all in the same boat. There was no way out except to do more to help the people of Britain, and tp help the Commonwealth weather the dollar crisis, which was just as serious for New Zealand as for any part of the sterling area. Three retiring directors, Messrs J. Carr (Methven), A. Craig (Clydevale), and R. T. McMillan (Irwell), who were the only nominees, were reelected.