NEW ZEALAND WHEAT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9778, 29 September 1917, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND WHEAT

COMING SEASON'S OUTPUT. REMARKS' IN PARLIAMENT. The wheat purchase was discussed at some length in the debate on the Imprest Supply Bill in the House of Representatives last night. The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald detailed the facts relative to the wheat purcha.se. He remarked that it was quite impossible for him to suggest that there should bo a variation in the price of wheat. He would stick to the price of 6s XOd per bushel f.o.b. Mr Anstey (Waitaki) said the Minister for Agriculture had made a loss in the wheat purchase. To avoid trouble with the coming season’s output ho would advise the Government to take control of the ■whole of the wheat of New Zealand after harvest, and distribute it immediately, so that if there was a shortage in New Zealand it should bo provided for. Mr Anstey considered that the wheat growers had not received considerate treatment by the Government; in fact, they had been treated as outcasts. The Uovernment should give the wheat grower every possible assistance. Mr McCombs (Lyttelton) said the Attorney-General had neglected his duty when he had not prosecuted the xheat growers for their “go slow" policy. While the -wheat growers had planted 100,000 i°ss of wheat during the year, thte -"oat miners who had been prosecuted for alleged “go slow” methods had produced more coal with less men.