CONFERENCE OF WHEAT GROWERS

Evening Star, Issue 18173, 13 January 1923, Page 2

CONFERENCE OF WHEAT GROWERS

PRICES FOR SEASON’S HARVEST. CONTINGENT UN EMBARGO. 'Mil' wheat growers of Sou Mi Cantorbiny, Mid-Canterbury, and North Canterbury won strongly represented at a conference in Ashburton yesterday, the deliberations relating to the fixing of wheat prices for (ho season’s harvest. The contercnco was convened by the provincial executives of I lie Farmers’ Union in the districts mentioned. Mr G. W. Leadloy (local president) occupied the chair. The question was discussed in committee in the forenoon, and the following report of the proceedings was subsequently sunplied:— J 1

1. That we agree to support any effort made to get the embargo on Australian Hour continued.

2. That v/e_ are of opinion that wheat is worth a minimum of 5s 5d per bushel, f.0.b., at the opening of the season. . l fl the afternoon the conference was continued, with the inclusion of the merchants’ and millers’ representatives. The merchants agreed to give their support to the suggestion that the embargo on Australian flour be continued, and to the demand that 5s 6d, f.0.b., be paid for wheat at the beginning of the season. ( ’-tlio view of the millers was that if the Government could be induced to coiftinne the embargo on Australian flour there was no reason why a satisfactory price should not be obtained by the growers; but the suggested price of 6s 6d was absolutely dependent on the continuation of the embargo. The foundation of any arrangement should bo a continuation of the embargo and an assurance that farmers who had to sell wheat for export would bo no worse off than those who sold to millers. It was pointed out that if the Government was forced to continue the embargo it would probably fix the price for flour and bread.

The meeting decided that a joint committee of all the interests involved meet in Christchurch on a date to be fixed to further discuss the matter. In the meantime the result of the present conference will bo forwarded to the Government, with a request for an expression of its policy in the. matter.