Wheat price statement

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33382, 14 November 1973, Page 2

Wheat price statement

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, Nov. 13. The Government was eon-1 sidering recommendations on wheat prices received from the Wheat Board after recent discussion between the board and the wheatgrowers’ subsection of Federated Farmers, said the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Freer) in Parliament today. He was replying to Mr R. L. G. Talbot (Nat., South Canterbury) who asked what progress had been made in considering his representations and those of Mr C. C. A. McLachlan (Nat., Rakaia). Replying to supplementary questions, Mr Freer said there was no intention of raising the price to be paid for crops now growing. Asked whether the Government regarded it as more profitable to import wheat from Australia at $4 a bushel, while paying local growers $1.62| a bushel, Mr Freer said that question had been already answered. “I intend to make an announcement earlier than usual on the price to be paid for the next wheat to be planted,” Mr Freer said. “This should give growers ample time to plant extra wheat acreage if they so desire.”