WHEAT SALES

Evening Star, Issue 18021, 15 July 1922, Page 3

WHEAT SALES

GROWERS AND THE INCREMENT. [Special to the ‘ Stae.’l CHRISTCHURCH, July 14. At a meeting of tho North Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union, held recently, a member brought up the question of wheat growers selling wheat in Juno at April rates, and it was decided that the Wheat Controller (Mr W. G. Macdonald) should bo consulted on the subject. Mr Benjamin (secretary of the executive) saw Mr Macdonald, who has furnished him with the following memorandum reMr Benjamin, secretary of the North Canterbury Famoi's’ Union, called and asked the following question: Whether it was a breach of the regulations for a grower to sell wheat in July at, say, March prices? Mr Macdonald replied as follows:—The increment of |d per month provided in the regulations was intended for the benefit of the grower, so as to (as nearly as possible) place all growers on an equal footing in regard to price, whether the grower delivered his wheat to the Government early or late in the season. If a grower chooses to forgo this -|d per month increment, then (to use a colloquialism.) “it is his own funeral”; and it is hard to see how the Wheat Control Office can prevent it. Growers, however, can rely on the Government taking over alter October 31 any balance of good milling wheat that may be left on their hands at the full Government price. In the meantime we are purchasing at the full price as fast as wo can make arrangements for shipping the exportable surplus; and I anticipate that before October no good milling wheat will be left on the growers’ hands. I should point out that if a grower forgoes the increment of |d per month provided by the regulations, lie does not benefit tho Government in any shape or form, as the contract provides that the miller pays whatever price is paid tire grower, plus 9d per bushel.