WHEAT QUESTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17390, 30 January 1917, Page 5

WHEAT QUESTION.

MR NOSWORTHY AND THE ) MINISTER.

FURTHER CONFERENCE SUGGESTED. Mr W. Nosworthy, M.P. for Ashburton, received tho following urgent telegram from the Hon W. D. S. MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture, on Saturday.— ,"If farmers think it necessary, 1 will be prepared to meet them in conference at Christchurch next Thursday, at 10.30 a.m., before announcing proposals regarding wheat. Reply urgent whether you think conference desir- " W. D. S. MACDONALD."

Mr Nosworthy telegraphed to the Minister of Agriculture as follows: " Not being cognisant of' Government proposals regarding wheat, it is impossible for me to advise as to the necessity of your again meeting the farmers in'conference. I would suggest that you call a conference for Thursday as proposed, meanwhile publishing the Government scheme, thus enabling representative farmers to consider the same before attending the conference. Any scheme that fails to provide for sufficient competent men to enable prompt and vigorous cultivation of an increased area promptly is foredoomed to failure, as many teams are now practically idle. I sincerely trust the National Government will indeed irise to the occasion, and so ensure the production of sufficient cereals within the Dominion. "W. NOSWORTHY."