PRICE AND DELIVERY OF WHEAT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11446, 28 January 1918, Page 8

PRICE AND DELIVERY OF WHEAT.

The public meeting held under the auspices of the Marlon branch of the Farmers’ Union was £woll attended at Merton on Saturday atfernoou, Mr A. Stuart presiding. Mr Edward Newman, M.P., stated that he considered that during the war it was clearly the duty of the Government to keep the price of bread as low as possible but it was also clear that the grower of wheat should he treated fairly and justly. Ho believed wheat was now being giowu at a loss £in Kaugitikei in many cases. In and out of Parliament he had urged on the tL*fc farmers’ wheat sliould bo valued in the North Island on the trucks or at the mill instead of f.o.h. in Wanganui which seemed absurd as farmers never ship wheat at Wanganui but without success. Eventually the Department decided to increasr the price for North Island wheat to 5s lOd plus 4d, the latter sum being reckoned as fair average cost of putting grain f.o.b. nearest port This concession no doubt improved the position of North Island "growers as compared with last season lias long been the custom for millers and farmers in Raugitikei to fix the price for each season on tiie price f.o.h. Lyttelton, plus freight and charges to Marton. This would not bo covered by 4d. The Minister had stated that the price in Rangitikei would be 5s lid this year. He hoped every farmer or miller present would take advantage of Mr Prates presence to [.clear up points in regard to terms and he thought thanks were due to the Minister for his prompt attention to the speaker’s urgent request that an officer of the Department should attend the meeting. Mr Newman, M.P., then read the following telegrams which he had received from the Hon. W. D. S. MacOonuld, Minister of Agriculture Received your telegram. The price at Marton for January, February-, March is (is 2d less cost of putting wheat f.o.h. I shall ascertain what f.o.b. charges are and wire you in time for meeting. Arranging to send Mr Pratt, the Assistant Wheat Controller to ex-p-in regulations to the meeting. Kind regards. Further to my wire of yesterday regarding whe*t, I have ascertained that charges from Marton to f.0.b,, Wanganui, are approximately 3d per bushel and that from Marton to

Wellington , approximately od per bushel on trucks. Prices at Mart on would therefore ho approximately 5s lid for January, February and March and would increase J£d per month thereafter until September.— I am etc., W. D. S. MAgDONAL. Mr Pratt, the Government expert then addressed the meeting. Mr F. Purnell proposed, and Mr A. Stuart seconded:—“That this meeting having heard Mr Pratt’s full particulars of the control of the present season’s wheat crop, and having taken into full consideration, the local conditions and prices stougly urge the Board of Trade, to fix the price of local wheat to 6s 3d per bushed, on trucks or at the flourmill door, and that the following committee bo appointed to present this resolution to the Board of Trade:—Mr E. Newman, M.P., Mr ■*. Stuart, Mr Goo. Henderson and Mr F. Purnell.” The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.