Delay On Wheat Price Criticised By Farmers

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31586, 25 January 1968, Page 13

Delay On Wheat Price Criticised By Farmers

The delay in announcing the 1968-69 wheat price was again criticised yesterday by Mr A. L. Mulholland, chairman of the agriculture section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers.

“It is intolerable that farmers should not now know where they are going because of a delay in announcing the price,” he told a meeting of the provincial executive. “We have not asked for an increase in the wheat price, but in effect, we have taken a reduction variously estimated at between 10 per cent and 20 per cent because of devaluation.” Mr Mulholland said that farmers had to know what the price would be. Devaluation had increased returns from meat and wool, and this had

created increased interest in these products, possibly at the expense of wheat. “We have got to plan 12 months ahead, and it is impossible to do that until we have the price of wheat,” said Mr D. W. Butcher. Mr W. N. Dunlop: This Is not the way to run the country. “We’ve seen what bureaucracy can do,” said Mr P. G. Morrison. “We should have had the price long before this.”

The president (Mr R. H. Bedford) said it looked as if the Government was deferring a decision until it knew whether there would be a wheat surplus this season. Australian growers were now getting 25c more a bushel than previously, said Mr Mulholland. This might encourage the Government to make it worth-while for New Zealand growers to sow enough wheat for self-sufficiency. “It is a poor thing if the Government is waiting to see if there is an over-supply. My earlier prognostications could be wrong, for I don’t think now that there will be an over-supply,” said Mr Mulholland. It was decided to ask the Wheat Board urgently to consider an immediate release of the 1968-69 price.