PRICE OF BREAD

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11662, 29 October 1923, Page 11

PRICE OF BREAD

AND PRICE OF WHEAT. “THE PROFITS IN BETWEEN.” FARMERS GOING AFTER THEM. A crisis with regard to the disposal of this season’s wheat crop seems to bo apprehended by the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union, judging from the speeches delivered at the recent meeting of that organisation. The chairman, Mr J. D. Hall, stated that the position was rather aggravated by the fact that the union had done its level best to get farmers who owned land suitable for the purpose to grow wheat* and there had been quite a substantial response. Estimates of the yield furnished three months ago had. been exceeded. The shortage, instead of 40 per cent., would be something like 30 per cent. In accordance with the Agricultural Committee’s recommendation, he moved that a conference regarding the method of dealing with this season’s wheat be arranged between the North Canterbury, Mid-Can-terbury, South Canterbury, and North Otago executive of the union, and that the Hon. W. Nosworthy (Minister for Agriculture) be invited .to attend. Mr W. W. Mulholland urged that it would not be wise to convene a conference immediately. The branches in the various wheat-growing districts of Canterbury and North Otago had already constituted the Wheat Board a committee to deal with next season’s crops, and the negotiations were proceeding satisfactorily, especially in regard to the disposal of last season’s wheat, which was a big factor in enabling them to make a deal with next season’s. They were now waiting information that would enable them to make a concrete proposal to the millers. When it came to hand they would ask the millers to meet them to discuss terms, and ‘he thought he could confidently say the price would be at least as good as that obtained last year. PRICE OF BREAD NOT TO BE RAISED.

They were absolutely limited in regard to price by the price of bread; they could not raise the price of bread to the consumers—they had taken that as an axiom. They found that it was impossible to think of any other course than that—the price of bread must not, on any account, be raised to the consumer. Any betterment they could obtain in respect of the -price of wheat must, of necessity, be obtained from the profits that were being made between the grower of wheat and the consumer of bread. They could not say, at the present stage, whether there were excessive profits being made in any of the industries concerned; if there were excessive profits being made, they did not say that, they could get them, but they were going after them. Mr R. T. McMillan supported Mr Mulholland’s remarks, and. said that it would be a pity not to allow the present negotiations to proceed. It would not be very long before something definite would he made known to farmers* In view of the remarks of Messrs Mul■holland and McMillan, tho chairman withdrew his motion.