Wheatgrowers asked to unite

Press, 27 November 1986, Page 3

Wheatgrowers asked to unite

Wheatgrowers have been called on to unite to combat the “monopoly” strength of Goodman Fielder-Watties, in a statement by the chairman of United Wheatgrowers, Mr Ness Wright.

“We must commit all the wheat crop to one marketing organisation to have any clout against the big merged group,” said Mr Wright, claiming that Fielder Goodman-Watties would control 60 per cent of flourmilling and 50 per cent of bread-making in New Zealand.

He therefore urged all growers to place any wheat from the coming harvest which had not yet been committed to a mer-

chant or a mill with the pool being run by Farmlands Grain, a trading cooperative which has a marketing agreement with United Wheatgrowers. Once this was done, growers would know their true marketing strength and could hold out for a “real wheat price.” The big merged food group would obviously attempt to secure its raw materials from growers at the cheapest possible price while being unwilling to pass on any price reductions to the consumer. The only people to win would be the shareholders of Fielder Goodman and Watties, Mr Wright said.