Growers’ Offer In Wheat Price Issue

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31655, 16 April 1968, Page 14

Growers’ Offer In Wheat Price Issue

Wheatgrowers have proposed to the Government, as a basis for negotiation, that they should be responsible for the cost of the disposal of any surplus wheat of milling quality.

Commenting during the week-end on the meeting last week on the 1969 wheat price between a committee of wheatgrowers and the Cabinet committee on wheat prices, the chairman of the Dominion agricultural section of Federated Farmers (Mr S. J. Lister) who led the wheatgrowers, said that points of difference had been narrowed. The Government, fearing a surplus of wheat because of increased sowings as a result of lower earnings, especially from lamb and wool, had reduced the basic price to be paid in an attempt to restrict production, said Mr Lister. Growers considered that this was illogical at this stage and had put forward as a basis for negotiation, their willingness to accept the retention Of a sum of money to cover the cost of the disposal of any surplus of milling-quality wheat, when it was proved that such a surplus did exist. Growers contended that because of their massive investment in plant, machinery and storage facilities in an effort to make the country selfsufficient in wheat, thereby saving the nation large resources in precious overseas exchange, it would be most unfair to interfere with the stability of 'the industry before exploring every avenue of disposal of wheat, if and when a surplus did eventuate.

The committee was adamant in its representations on behalf of wheatgrowers that the basic price for the 1969 harvest should not be reduced and that their acceptance of the principle of responsibility for disposal of a declared surplus was an adequate concession in the light of present production levels. Mr Lister said that the Parliamentary sub-comittee had undertaken to discuss further growers’ views, after which a decision could be expected. A Press Association message from Wellington printed on Saturday said that the Cabinet would consider the issue further today.