WHEAT INQUIRY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30144, 30 May 1963, Page 16

WHEAT INQUIRY

Report Within Six Weeks

The Committee of Inquiry into the Wheatgrowing, Flourmilling and Bread Baking Industries would have its report ready for the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) in a month to six weeks’ time said the committee chairman (Mr J. H. Macdonald).

“The report will definitely be ready within six weeks,” said Mr Macdonald, a Christchurch solicitor. “Several factors have complicated preparing the report, and being unable to get it out before this year's harvest was not the least of them. “However, we have answered all the major problems raised and it is now a question of getting things in the best order for making the report. We are meeting regularly and working hard on it.” The committee of inquiry began its hearings on April 6 last,year and the final hearing was on November 21. Mr W. C. Stafford, of Timaru, a farmer and formerly an officer of the Department of Agriculture, and Mr R. G Compton, an accountant, of Christchurch, were members of the committee. The secretary was Mr J. D. Kerr, of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Wellington.

The committee received submissions from 41 main organisations, and supplementary submissions were also made by many of the organisations. Evidence typed filled 1700 sheets of foolscap paper.