MARKETING WHEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 139, 16 June 1927, Page 11

MARKETING WHEAT

CO-ORDINATION SOUGHT

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SAN FRANCISCO, 16th jjfay. '.. Close co-operation, ,to th§ point of creating, if possible, a single channel for the movement of the world wheat export business, t as the prevailing note of the first conference of wheat-produc-ing countries just held at Kansas City. No delegate suggested, even casually, that a single agency for releasing world pool products is economically feasible. The entire thought of the conference was persistently in the direction of closer and more definite connection between all grain pools, co-operating in acreage, methods of collection, and final distribution, and allocation of exportable surplus.

For domestic purposes, however, as one delegate put it, each . pool unit must necessarily be the sole judgo of its products.

The proposed national pool of tho United States decided to accept the offer of the American Government to lend it up to 50,000,000 dollars. It is expected that this will be applied through Federal land loans at 4 or 5 per cent., period of repayment to be spread over 25 years. Some 30 or 40 States are expected to be brought under the national pool. American delegates stated that they would call on their States for assistance in campaigning for members. They felt in a happy mood about getting money, as 1928 is a Presidential election year, and all parties are out to win the farming vote. There was some difference of opinion as to what extent the co-ordination of world grain pooling organisations could go, and still retain the confidence of the consumers of their countries, but tho principle was cordially approved. A central .selling agency, similar to that in the Canadian' Wheat Pool, was agreed upon for the United States.

The principle of the "voluntary contract" form of co-operative marketing was definitely approved.

"Instead of leaning on our Governments, we should adopt business methods, meet our responsibilities, and tell Governments to cease blocking the channels of trade and set industrialism free," was the advice to the conference of Henry Wise Wood, father of the Canadian pools, and convener of the World Conference.

It transpired at the conference that Eussia has an organisation of an export control nature, similar to Australia and New Zealand, Which markets every bushel of grain produced in Russia.