THE OAT MARKET

Evening Star, Issue 15758, 23 March 1915, Page 1

THE OAT MARKET

WHAT SOUTHLAND FARMERS THINK. [Per United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, March 25. A meeting convened by the Fanners’ Union discussed the Government’s proposals to prohibit the exportation of oats and chaff. Mr William Fordo, president, said ho thought the question was of very great interest to Southland. The main point was the alleged shortage of three million bushels. and how it had been arrived at. He had been making inquiries, and the opinion generally expressed was that the estimates were not correct. Many farmers had told him they had not been asked to furnish estimates, and others said that when the request was made it was too early in the season to arrive at an accurate conclusion. In a season like the present one had been, it had been a most difficult matter to furnish a reliable estimate when the figures had been obtained by the Agircultural Department. If there was a shortage of three million bushels, then there was no great grievance to ventilate. Many farmers stoutly maintained that in regard to the figures credited to .Southland they were not a fair estimate. Most farmers had sown late in the spring, in response to the appeal made by the Prime Minister, and those crops in particular appeared at one time to be in a very bad state, but they bad since made great progress, and would turn out 50 per cent, better than was at one time expected of them.

Mr W. S. Fleming said the Government would have a pretty good idea of the acreage under crop, and the usual returns would come pretty near to the mark. He was quite sure there were- less oats in Southland than usual, and there were very little- old oats in the country. Last year no oats were exported. The oat crops in the north had been almost a failure, and he could quite understand that there was going to he a shortage. Statements went round the country of oats averaging 80 bushels to the acre, but they knew that averages were overstated. Ihey all had a weakness for making the best of things. The Chairman ; Is 25 bushels to the acre a fair estimate? Mr Fleming: No; that is an underestimate. Mr Patterson: If the estimate was double tliat it would be about right. Mr John M‘Queen said they could not grow grain here if their outlet was closed. If the Government were going to interfere with farmers’ businesses farmers would give up grain growing and try something else. Why not leave the fanner alone, in order that he might recoup the losses made in former years. If the farmers were not to be allowed to proceed on business lines, and to deal in the market in which they could get the. biggest price, then he, for one, would not grow oats. Another speaker said if the Government were prepared to give the farmer the same price for his oats as he would receive if he exported them, there would be no fault to find. Mr Fleming said if Southland were prohibited from exporting it would be a good thing for Southland if the estimate was correct. Southland should not be allowed to export. A few months' hence there would bo a demand from the North Island, and farmers would bo selling in a few months at a better price than was offering now. It would he unpractical to export oats if there was a shortage, and have, perhaps, to pay from _Bs to 10s per bushel to biing them back into the country.

A speaker inquired if it would not he better to put an export tax of 3d per bushel on oats, which would steady prices a bit.

After further discussion, it was moved—- “ That this meeting, representing a large number of farmers, recommend that the Government fix the price of oats.” The Board of Agriculture should do the same as they had done with meat. The- Government should buy the oats and do what they liked with them. If there was a shortage, it was no use the farmers bucking against the Government’s proposal, but they should try and get as fair a- price as they could. Mr Schmidt seconded the motion, and said it was only a fair way of dealing with the question. If there was a shortage farmers were prepared to meet the Government, but the Government should fix the price, and not leave it to speculators to do so. Mr M'Qucen moved —“ That this meeting entirely disapprove of the Government's action in 'prohibiting the exportation of produce; that it is an unwarrantable interference with the farmers in the carrying out of their business, as it will tend to discourage the growing of oa-ts, and create a worse evil than exists now.” He said that they should merely pass the motion, and sit tight in the meantime. Mr Patteison seconded the motion. Mr Trotter suggested that the first part of the motion be omitted, as it was a sort of slur on the Government. Voices: No, no. A Voice: That’s what they need —a slur. The Chairman said that the price of oats had not come back since the proclama/tion had been issued. A Voice : Hie price has gone hack srl. The Secretary : Can you prove that? I can prove that it has not gone hack. I sold oats at from 4s to 4s 2d ajnonth ago, and this week I sold at 4s 3d and 4s 4d.

After some further desultory discussion the first motion was withdrawn and Mr M'Queen's resolution was carried, only three, voting against it.