Wheat Price GOVT PROMISES REVIEW

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31598, 8 February 1968, Page 1

Wheat Price GOVT PROMISES REVIEW

Assurance Given To Deputation

The price to be paid to wheatgrowers in the 1969 season will be referred back to the Cabinet for discussion, says the Wellington reporter of “The Press.” This assurance was given by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) early last evening after prolonged discussions with a deputation of wheatgrowers in the afternoon.

The interview was to take less than an hour, but Mr Holyoake cancelled other appointments and conferred with the wheatgrowers for more than two hours.

The acting-president of Federated Farmers (Mr A. G'Begg) said afterwards that the Prime Minister had given an assurance that wheatgrowers’ representatives would be present when the Cabinet gave the matter further consideration.

“We hope there will be an early decision,” he said.

When he saw Mr Holyoake, Mr Begg said that wheatgrowers’ representatives were not fully consulted when the new wheat price was fixed. They were included in informal discussions, but confidentially and as members of another organisation. “There is no reason why the New Zealand wheat industry cannot become one of New Zealand’s exporting industries,’’ Mr Begg said. Other members of the deputation were Messrs R. H. Bedford, W. N. Dunlop, A. L. Mulholland, J. R. Cocks, S. J. Lister, J. D. Simpson, and R. G. Rainey. 1969 Acreage Mr Bedford, president of North Canterbury Federated Farmers, said on his return to Christchurch last evening that it seemed the Government thought a cut in the price of wheat would reduce the acreage. It had not occurred to the Government that a reduction in price might increase the acreage as growers sought to hold ther incomes. Mr Bedford said that at the meeting with Mr Holyoake, and three other Ministers— Messrs Marshall, Shand and Adams-Schneider—no explanation had been given why wheatgrowers were singled out for a reduction in their prices. He wanted also to emphasise that no discussions had taken place with Federated Fanners before the new price was announced.

Mr Bedford said that the full and frank discussions yesterday should leave the Gov-

ernment in no doubt as to the attitude of farmers.

Although Mr Holyoake had undertaken to refer the issue to the Cabinet he had given no indication that the decision would be favourable. “There is little we can do now but await the Cabinet’s decision. Should this be unfavourable we will consider what further action is required.” Mr Bedford said that there had been no opportunity to raise the question of a hidden subsidy on flour. “I believe there is a subsidy of $11.50 a ton on flour.”

Much time during the meeting had been spent on discussions on the means of communication between the Government and Federated Farmers on wheat matters. More consideration would be given to this by both sides.

On the question of the possible resignation of Federated Farmers members from

the North Canterbury Agricultural Advisory Committee, Mr Bedford, who is also chairman of the committee, said that the Prime Minister fully understood the position the farmer members were in and also fully appreciated that no threat was involved.

M.P.’s Attend

In addition to the Cabinet Ministers, Messrs H. L. Pickering, M.P. for Rangiora, C. C. A. McLachlan, M-P- for Selwyn, R. L. G. Talbot, M.P. for Ashburton- and A. D. Dick, M.P. for Waitaki, had been present at the talks. The general manager of the Wheat Board (Mr L. C. Dunshea) had also attended. Mr Mulholland, a vice-chair-man of the Dominion agriculture section of Federated Farmers, said that although he was glad the Government was going to re-examine the price, he still felt quite definitely that there was no reason for any change to be made in the present price when “a surplus is nowhere near us yet.” The deputation had emphasised that it did not think enough was being done to find out where a surplus might be disposed of and at what price.