THE WHEAT QUESTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17067, 27 July 1917, Page 6

THE WHEAT QUESTION

(Feom Otje Own Cokeespondent.) , WELLINGTON, July 25. Mr Nosworthy had something to say in the House ,to-night concerning the wheat question. The Minister of Agriculture, he said, told the farmers of Ashburton County that they were living on the brink of a volcano, but did not know i that a war was on. Was that the way to talk to men whose sons had, lost their lives at Gallipoli and elsewhere? The wheat-growers should bo encouraged, and should be treated as men, not picked up to-day and thrown down tomorrow. If wheat dropped to 2s 6d, would anybody suggest that the Government should go to the wheat-growers' assistance? Because tie wheat-growers were in a minority they did not receive fair treatment The country did not want to go to Australia to buy wheat at a higher price. It would have been far better if tho Government had accepted the farmers' offer and let them get to work instead of wasting time in discussing the question. It was not so much a question of prop as having wheat. By the time the Australian wheat arrived here it was costing twice as roach, if not more. If the Government had paid tho price on trucks at country stations it would havo encouraged people in back country places to grow wheat They forgot that these people had to pay railway charges for their manure.