‘No Threat Intended’ On Wheat Price

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31597, 7 February 1968, Page 1

‘No Threat Intended’ On Wheat Price

. The chairman of the North Canterbury Agricultural Advisory Committee (Mr R. H. Bedford) told a meeting of the committee yesterday that he had not intended a threat when he announced last week that he felt he should resign from the committee because of the Government’s decision to lower the price for wheat harvested in 1969.

AU five farmer members of the committee have indicated that they may resign from the committee on the issue.

Mr Bedford told the committee that he would withhold his resignation if the Government agreed to reconsider the issue, but if a negative answer was received by a deputation which would meet the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today, he would hand in his resignation as soon as the decision was made.

He could no longer remain chairman of the committee and live with his conscience after having been a member of an organisation that had urged farmers to increase production and provide storage for wheat. Mr Bedford said he realised that by such a step he would be giving away advantages enjoyed as a member of the committee representing all sections of the community considering common problems. FARMERS’ SUPPORT

In discussions among members of Federated Farmers since the announcement that North Canterbury Federated Farmers might withdraw its support from the committee, Mr Bedford said only three members had criticised his action, and his analysis was that 99 per cent of the farmers were fully behind them in the action they were taking. After saying that there had been a lack of consultation on the issue, Mr Bedford said he felt the present situation would not have arisen if fuller reports had been made available.

Reporting that he had also come independently to a decision to resign, Mr W. N. Dunlop said he felt that if the wheat price decision were adhered to it would destroy any confidence that people had In the recommendations of the committee. Farmers had been encouraged to Incur debts in providing storage facilities. Had the price announcement been made earlier at the proper time, a lot of storage facilities would not have been erected. “HARDEST HIT” Expressing the support of the meat and wool section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers for the actions of their leaders on the wheat price issue, the section’s chairman (Mr A. F. Wright), who is also a member of the committee, said that sheepfarmers who had diversified into wheat production could

be those hardest hit by the price drop as they had reentered wheatgrowing only two or three years ago to augment their incomes and could be in debt to a considerable extent by the purchase of harvesters and the provision of storage. Mr A. L. Mulholland, chairman of the agricultural section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers, said that an untenable situation had been reached. As members of the committee could they ask farmers to do other things after this sort of situation? As a vice-chairman of the Dominion agricultural section of Federated Farmers, Mr Mulholland said, he had had no knowledge of the proposed change in price. OTHER MEMBERS’ VIEWS Non-farming members of the committee expressed concern at the possible resignation of farming members. Mr A. I. Bilbrough said that if the farmers took the extreme step of resigning farming would be the poorer. “If you do that you let the Government get away with the situation.” He felt that the farmers might be better to carry on the fight with other members of the committee.

Messrs M. H. Rogers and R. A. Milne said they could not see how the committee could exist without farmers. “Without members of Federated Farmers the whole purpose and effectiveness of this committee would be lost,” said Mr R. L. Jolly.

Mr R. C. Stuart executive director of the Agricultural Production Council, said he was concerned about the machinery for consultation on the wheat price, but at this stage he felt it was outside the scope of the council. Deputation Named

The deputation representing wheatgrowers, which will meet the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and the chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Wheat Prices (Mr AdamsSchneider) this afternoon in Wellington to discuss the reduction in the 1969 wheat price, will comprise the president of North Canterbury Federated Farmers (Mr R. H. Bedford), the senior vicepresident of North Canterbury Federated Farmers (Mr W. N. Dunlop), the chairman of the agricultural section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers (Mr A. L. Mulholland) the senior vice-president of Mid - Canterbury Federated Farmers (Mr J. R. Cocks), the acting Dominion president of Federated Farmers (Mr A. C. Begg), the chairman of the Dominion agriculture section of Federated Farmers (Mr S. J. Lister), the senior vicechairman of the Dominion agriculture section of Federated Farmers (Mr J. D. Simpson), and the chairman of United Wheatgrowers (N.Z.), Ltd (Mr R. G. Rainey). (Related reports, back page)