HARVEST OF WHEAT

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31542, 2 December 1967, Page 7

HARVEST OF WHEAT

Policy Sought For 1968-69 The agriculture section executive of North Canterbury Federated Farmers decided at its meeting this week to ask the Wheat Board for a policy statement, including price, on the 1968-69 harvest. A motion to this effect was carried, but not without opposition. The-chairman of the executive (Mr A. L. Mulholland) said there was a possibility of New Zealand not only becoming self-sufficient as a wheat producer, but also of having a surplus. The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that the world demand for wheat would reach 473 million tons by 1984, and of this developing countries would need 90 to 100 million tons for food by then. “This could be a shortage which would play right into our hands,” Mr Mulholland said.

Supporting the motion to ask the board for a policy statement he said producers must be ready with the answers if they found they had over-supplied. ”We don’t want to be running around then looking for the answers. It would be too late.”

Mr W. N. Dunlop (Tai Tapu and districts) said he did not think the executive should rush into the matter. “I feel, for once, there should be less haste until we find out how we are situated, and the effect of devaluation. The longer the board has to decide the better its decision will be.”