WHEAT CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17871, 28 February 1920, Page 9

WHEAT CONFERENCE

SETTLEMENT ARRIVED AT. (Peb United Pbess association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 27. A conference of delegates from the various wheat growing districts of Canterbury and Otago was held to-day to consider the question of miking a recommendation to the Government respecting the price of wheat for 1921. Mr D. Jones, M.P., president of tho North Canterbury Farmers' Union, presided. Mr W. Nosworthy (Minister of Agriculture) was present. It was decided that tho proceedings bo held in camera. Before tho press, representatives withdrew the Chairman stated that some feeling had boon engendered amongst wheat-growers as the result of the last conference. The feeling had been that fanners were not getting market rates. He wished to omphasise the fact that the committee appointed did not go back on the larger meeting. Tho representatives of the Board of Trade had placed before tho meeting the price at which they could land Australian wheat in New Zealand. The Government had hod offers of wheat below the cabled market price from Australia. The committee closed with tho Prime Minister upon t,h c basis of the price at which the New Zealand Government could land wheat from the commonwealth. Tito Minister conferred for about two hours with the delegates. The official report afterwards given to the press was that a settlement had been arrived at, which would be made pubjio after Mr Nosworthy had had an opportunity of discussing it with his colleagues. The Press Association understands unofficially that to-day's Wheat Conference arranged that tho next season's prices should be the prices as fixed for this season's crop—namely, 7s 2d, 7s 6d, 7s 9d per bushel, but at f.o.b. No official announcement is forthcoming to-night.