FOWL WHEAT.

Northern Advocate, 10 February 1925, Page 3

FOWL WHEAT.

POULTRY INDUSTRY IN JEOPARDY. OPPOSITION TO IMPORTATIONS. The serious position the poultry industry is in , owing to the shortage of fowl wheat was again pointed out at a meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers.' Union last week. At the meeting of the executive three months ago the following resolution was carried: "That the Government bo urged to allow one million bushels of wheat to be imported free of duty into the North Island under license to the New Zealand Poultry Association until the end of February, 1926." A notice of motion appeared on last week's order paper to rescind this resolution, but when this was reached Mr. J. D. Hall (Canterbury) asked leave to withdraw it. He pointed out that the wheat-growers were at present negotiating with the millers for the new season's crop, and if the matter were held oyer for some weeks they would be able to let poultry-farmers know at what price they could let them have fowl wheat. Mr. T. Bruce, of the Poultry Farmers' Association, objected to the matter being further shelved. Ho pointed out that the poultry farmers had now waited three months, and nothing had been done by the wheat-growers. The matter was a vital one to the poultry industry, which would have to go to the wall if fowl wheat was not obtainable. J Mr. Hall stated that negotiations were at present in progress with the Poultry' Association. Mr. Bruce said the wheat-growers had never been in communication with the Poultry Association. They had been in touch with a private individual, who was not a member of the Poultry Association. The latter body had been most reasonable in their demands, having only asked for a million bushels, a quarter of their requirements. Mr. A. G. Mumby, another member of the Poultry Association, said the matter would be most serious if it were further held up. The whole matter had been fully thrashed out three months ago, when the members of the executive had supported the poultry farmers in their demands. It looked very much as if the wheat-growers were purposely holding the matter up. They did not know where they were.

Mr. A. E. Harding (Auckland): I know where you will be. Your industry will go to the wall. Mr. G. J. Anderson (Pelorus) said that it was the duty of the Farmers' Union to stand by the resolution which had been passed at the last meeting. The union would get nowhere if it passed resolutions and did not carry them out. Mr. W. J. Poison (president) agreed that the union must keep faith with the Poultry Farmers' Association. He suggested that a deputation should wait upon the Minister of Agriculture, and see if a compromise could not be arrived at. He understood that the Minister had definitely stated that he would not agree to take the duty off imported _ wheat. '■ In tne course of further discussion, it was stated that the poultry-farmers

had to pay from .83 6d to 10s 6d a bushel for fowl wheat in • the Domi nj.on. Mr. Poison asked Mr. Mumby if the Poultry-farmers' Association could pay cash for a million bushels of wheat. Mr. Mumby: Yes; we are organised, and can find finance for all the wheat we can place, and we will have 110 difficulty in placing a million bushels. Mr Harding moved that the president should interview the Minister, and if no satisfactory reply was received within ten days the executive take steps to give effect to the motion passed at the last meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Anderson, and carried.