FARMERS CONFER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1924, Page 8

FARMERS CONFER

!§feiNG OF DOMINION

?•: EXECUTIVE

THE WHEAT QUESTION

- Ai'Jriieetiiig of the Dpminion Executive Df "tlie New Zealand Farmers' Unien was hel(f*to-day, the president, Mr. W. J. 'Poison, in-the chair. There were also present: *Messrs. J. D. Hall (Christchurch), ,W. Smith (Blenheim),- A. C. iLeary- (Otago), T. Bruce (Manawatu), A. x G.. Muinhy- (W rellington), G. Anderson v iXPelqrus),''R. S. Cha'dwick (Southern 'Hawkes-Bay), 0. P. Lynch (Manawatu), iW. _fcA"; Ryder (Nelson);-P. Arnett V '(SputEftind); W T. B. Mathespn (Wairairapajl^ST^E. Marshall (Martpn), and H. Nevins_-j(treiisurer). : ; A ifefggij '.was': received from the provinciafeecretary,' Ashburton,- stating that .the average'price for fowl wheat at Ashburtofinya^not; considered excessive, be- . _ng geijeraily above Is per bushel below milling; juality. ; ; : Messrs.;-.. Bruce A. G. Mumhy ;put t_»^'_>6litio_. frpm the-ppultrymen's point .fit "fview. It,was urged that there ■„ -{could. i^e'V-ii. good reason for preventing '' 'poul_!jMav_eat being pbtairied from Aus-'''■'-.'■.traliaSwV* <,-..*. ;ir. -■; ,:!', ;•-..- M-iI^SSW- Leadley, chairman of the •jWhe^yjf^iard, niade a statement, in :. which he outlined the pre- . sent position, and the probable intentions .of the?S'"JthjPrities, so far as- fowl wheat . ■'■ : $ _Je'ei*ned. :"■'■' '. Mr|*iPv:*--;D. 'Duxfield commented in strong?, •terms oh the present unsatisfac-"-.,-tory ippsitipn iii regard to wheat, and ■lirged^the adoption of some definite policy ", on th^ questien. Mr.l'-Harding''fhpught they sheuld urge -the; Government tp remeve the embargo ' from.'the; iimportation :.of fowl wheat. . Mr.^ Leadley deprecated "rushing" this matter, and indicated that in his opinion - the difficulty was only a temporary, one. It v wfs likely that .those interested in the poultry ; industry wpuld be able tp „ get sufficient'\yheat to meet .their re- ' '■' quiveirients'—at least, for spme,menths. :.-■";. Mr.'; Mathespn, speaking''as a free,i trader, expressed the epinipn that it was altogether; vvrohg' that New Zealand should hav.e any. embargo,placed on the importatibn.of wheat. 'Itijyas fesolved that a committee CPn: sider j.he <jiiestipn and report tp the meeting later intheiday. v ■ ' .- . . Mr| R. D. Duxfield (Aucklan.4) was -nanihicusly appeinted a life member pf the uhion.r. Mr. Duxfield's valuable ser- .- vices'^were heartily recognised by mem-ler-i 'preseiht. , Th^ suggestien, originally made by the secretary (Gplenel Ppw), that there should : ,be ' ii drive er united effert made tp increase the membership' ef the, unien in different districts was endcrsed,. and preliminary steps were-taken tp give '.effect ~^_ the" movement..-v-. '■-.. '-.. \ .•? - ■'.--■-■, (Proceeding.);''-.... -.--.'