PRICE PAID FOR WHEAT

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26605, 15 December 1951, Page 8

PRICE PAID FOR WHEAT

ATTITUDE ADOPTED “ UNREALISTIC ”

DISCUSSION BY SOUTH CANTERBURY FARMERS (From Qur Own Reporter) TIMARU, December 14. “I feel that any farmer who has land suitable for growing wheat and has the means to harvest that wheat by modern methods, and refused to grow some wheat for the country is as much a saboteur as a striking watersider,” said Mr W. J. Fletcher (Waimate), at a meeting of the South Canterbury Federated Farmers’ executive in Timaru this morning. Mr Fletcher was speaking to a motion from the Waimate branch: “That Federated Farmers be no longer interested in the question of growing wheat until approached by the Government.” The motion was rejected in favour of the following amendment: “That while recognising the responsibility of farmers to- grow wheat for New Zealand requirements, this executive considers that the Prime Minister’s approach to the wheat price for New Zealand producers is unrealistic, and in view of the rapidly increasing costs this executive considers that there is little inducement to farmers to increase wheat production.” « “We as farmers are not concerned about the price, but we are concerned about the possibility of bread rationing,” said Mr R. T. Taylor (Fairlie). “The only means to avoid rationing is to step up the price. We cannot compel farmers to abide by any decisions we make.”

Another member said that because of the big subsidy being paid on milled wheat the townspeople did not fully understand the position.