WHEAT SUPPLY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 March 1926, Page 5

WHEAT SUPPLY.

BUYERS’ POOL PROPOSAL. ATTITUDE OF GROWERS. (BY TELF.ORAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 24. The proposed pooling of the wheat supplies bv the millers was the subject of a report from the agricultural committee of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union executive submitted at a meeting of that body to-day. The committee reported as follows: “That the establishment of a wheat buying pool by the millers is really creating a combination of wheat buyers which onlv can be met by united effort on the part of the wheat growers to hold on for 7s per bushel. The amount of wheat coming in is not going to keep the mills going' very long, and the position must be faced and the millers must decide whether they will give 7s for local- wheat, 8s (sacks in) for Australian wheat, or shut down their mills.’’

In a subsequent discussion it was suggested that the action of the millers closely resembled the formation of a trust, and that their action was in effect a direct challenge to the growers. Speakers admitted that the growers had no such organisation as the millers, but they urged farmers to hold their wheat until they could get 7s per bushel. /

Considerable discussion followed on a proposal to form a growers’ wheat pool for next season, to which farmers should be .asked to contribute at the rate of 2d per bushel for expenses and for the establishment of a &ind which might be used for the assretance of wheat holders in future years to prevent the breaking of the ma.rket by vent such organisation. It was urged that the price could be stabilised and acreage in wheat could also be stabilised.

Eventually the following resolution was carried: “That the question of the organisation of wheat growers be referred to the agricultural committee of the union to investigate and report.” .