SURPLUS WHEAT

Otago Witness, Issue 3574, 12 September 1922, Page 28

SURPLUS WHEAT

ARRANGEMENTS FOR DISPOSAL. GOVERNMENT’S OFFER TO GROWERS. WELLINGTON, September 5. In the House of Representatives, the lion W. N osivorthy (Minister of Agriculture) to day made the following statement in re gard to the wheat production:— “In terms of its guarantee to the growers the Government is bound to take over am to pay for any surplus of good milling wheat after October 31. but, in order tc determine the extent of the Government’: liability as soon as possible, and to enable a decision to be reached as to the Ix>st method of marketing such wheat, 1 havt instructed the Wheat Controller to begit immediately to purchase good milling wheat that comes up to the standard, as defined in the regulations, even if the wheat doe: not reach the hig'h standard that had nece= sariiy to be fixed for export. hull inslruc tions in respect to this matter will I »■ issuer:

to all licensed wheat brokers from the Wheat Control Office some time this week. In dealing with surplus milling wheat, the quantity of undergrade wheat will also be ascertained, and 1 have decided to offer to wheat growers the facilities of the Wheat Control Office in finding a market for this class of wheat as well. Whether these facilities will be availed of by the growers will be entirely optional. I cannot undertake on behalf of the Government any financial obligations in respect to undergrade milling wheat, but the Wheat Control Office will be prepared to arrange freights and to market to the best advantage all undergrade wheat that is entrusted to it by the growers, and, when the wheat has been placed on board ship, to arrange for advances to growers. It will be necessary for the growers to make an early decision as to whether they intend to avail themselves of this offer, and full instructions will be issued to the Government brokers as early as possible. In the meantime no permits to export undergrade wheat, except in special circumstances, will be granted. This, of course, will not apply to undergrade wheat that is exported through the Wheat Control Office. Some months ago, in anticipation of the situation that has now developed, the Wheat Control Office, with my approval, sent to Londo.n and elsewhere samples and grades of New Zealand wheat, inferior to good milling grade, in order that purchasers might know what we had to sell. Consequently, there will be no delay in launching the scheme, if growers decide to avail themselves of the facilities which I am now offering them.’ , The Minister of Agriculture has advised Mr A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) that the scheme which he outlined in the House to-day was framed to deal with all the wheat in the dominion. But with the special purpose of clearing up the position in South Otago and Southland, the Minister hoped to be able this week to present details which would be found to supply a satisfactory method of dealing with the situation.