NEW ZEALAND WHEAT

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 15, 17 July 1918, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND WHEAT

A DISAPPOINTING CROP

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE'S •" ACTIVITIES.

Reporting 1o the New Zealand Council of Agriculture, sitting in Wellington today, the Board of Agriculture referred as follows to the wheat question :—

"The wheat question has been many times before the board in various phases, and our original opinion was that something over 53 a bushel should be guaranteed to the grower. When we considered the question of price at our meeting in May, 1917, it was pointed out that the high price of wheat throughout the world, and the high price which had to be paid in Australia for the wheat obtained for the Dominion, would surely justify the Government in paying a larger amount to farmers for the next season's wheat than had been offered.

"It was then decided to write to the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, and to say that the board hoped that after his experience of what it would cost to bring wheat from Australia, he could see his way to make the price for the 1917-18 crop Ss lOd per bushel o.t. instead of f.o.b. We believed this price would encourage the growth of a wider area of wheat, and bo much more equitable to those growers a long distance from port selling fipr local use, seeing that the miller would be entitled to deduct from the 5s lOd freight charges to the por# even though there was no intention of exporting the wheat. Under these conditions a farmer 100 miles from port would nrobably only receive 5s 6d, whereas one who could deliver the wheat himself at the port would receive 4d per bushel more. We thought that if our recommendation to fix the price o.t. were given effect to, such anomalies would be entirely obviated. "The Government, however, having decided upon the price to be paid, the board were quite prepared to assist them in every way to deal with the question. "The farmers made a great effort to grow sufficient grain for the Dominion, although they did not think that tho guaranteed price was commensurate with the risk. Th,e crop was most disappointing, and although with an average crop we should have grown quite sufficient on tho area set aside for this cereal the threshing returns would indicate that we shall ha.ye to import a. considerable quantity to make up the deficit.

"The representatives of the board interested attended at the invitation of the Minister a conference in Christchurch in November last, when there was placed before the millers, brokers, farmers, and merchants the whole matter of the arTangements proposed to bo made for the sale and disposal of the 1917-18 season's wheat to the Government.

"With regard to the price .to be paid for the 1918-19 crop the Board resolved : 'That the Government be asked to state the price at which it is prepared to purchase next season's wheat crop, the board being strongly of opinion that an announcement on the.subject should be made at the earliest possible date. From information furnished by several members of the board, there appeared to be a strong disinclination on the part of the farmers to grow wheat even at the price which was mentioned as being likely to be offered for next season's groin, this being mainly owing to the difficulty of securing adequate labour, for harvesting, the disappointing results of this season's crop in many cases, together with the cost of sacks, coal, and threshing. In these circumstances it is very doubtful whether sufficient wheat will be grown next season for our own requirements unless some further ar-, arrangements are made.' "Wo are glad to know, however, from reports that have appeared in the Press that the matter of next season's crop will be dealt with in a more liberal manner." ' (UNITED TRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIQHT.) MELBOURNE, 16th July. Ths Wheat Board has decided to sell to New Zealand two million bushels of wheat at 5s 7£d per bushel.