UNDER-GRADE WHEAT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11293, 19 August 1922, Page 5

UNDER-GRADE WHEAT

GROWERS ANXIOUS SHIPPING “SMUTTY” WHEAT OUT OF DOMINION. THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS Was any further information available with regard to allowing smutty and second-grade wheat to be shipped out of the country? asked Mr JBitchener (Waitaki), of the Minister for Agriculture yesterday afternoon. He never knew, stated the hon. member, such a state of affairs before as the large quantity of smutty and un-der-grade wheat at present in the country. The Hon. W. Nosworthy replied that he had nothing further to say in regard to the shipping of second-grade wheat; but he hoped to be able to make, at a. very early date, arrangements for the shipping of smutty wheat out of the Dominion. There was no machinery in the country for dressing it properly, and the idea was to let it go to the. Old Country, where they had facilities for dressing it. After September 30th the farmers would be allowed to ship away the wheat that the Government did not require. NO GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE. Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) asked whether any Government guarantee had been given as regards the price of wheat that had been rejected, or would It simply be left to the speculators. Of certain parcels of wheat of equal grade, he stated, some had been accepted, but the rest rejected; and that was very unfair to the farmers. Mr Nosworthy said that the Government had given no guarantee except in regard to the best milling wheat. The Government had nothing to do with second-grade wheat, except that as there was an ample market for it in the Dominion, it was not allowed to be shipped away at present. But there was a possibility of the shipment of a quantity being allowed after September 80th. He had instructed the inspectors to deal generously with the wheat-growers, and had asked for an overhaul of the whole of the wheat, and after that overhaul he did not think there would be any dissatisfaction.,