PRICE AND DELIVERY OF WHEAT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11447, 29 January 1918, Page 5

PRICE AND DELIVERY OF WHEAT.

The public meeting held under the auspices of the Marton branch of the Farmers’ Union was 'well attended at Msrton on Saturday att'ernoon, Mr A. Stuart presiding. Mr Edward Newman, M. P., stated that lie 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, whs also clear that the grower of wheat should be treated fairly and justly, lie believed wheat was now being giown at a loss-in Rangifcikei in many cases. In and out ot Parliament lie had urged on the Minister that farmers’ wheat should-he valued in the North Island on the trucks or at the mill •instead ot f.o.b. in Wanganui which seemed absurd as fanners never ship wheat at Wanganui but without success. Eventually the Department decided to increasr the price for North Island wheat to os lOd plus 4d, the latter sum being reckoned as fair average cost of putting grain f.o.b. nearest port This goucessiou no doubt improved the position of North Island cs compared with last so'.son has long been the custom for millers and farmers in Raugitikoi to fix the price for each season on the price f.o h. Lyttelton, plus freight and charges to Marton. This would not ho covered by -Id. The Minister had stated that the price in Baugitikei would bo 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 ho thought thanks were duo to the Minister for bis prompt attention to the speaker’s urgent request that an officer of the Department should attend the mooting. Mr Newman, M.P., then road the following telegrams which he had received from the Hon. W. D. S. MacUoi.u'ld, Minister of Agriculture :

Received your telegram. The price at Marton for January, February, Mtrch is (is 2d less cost of putting wheat f. o.b. I shall ascertain what f.o.b. charges are and wire vou in time for meeting.

Arranging to send Mr Pratt, the Assistant Wheat Controller to cxpdn regulations to the meeting. Kind, regards. s Further to my wire of yesterday rifgariling wlio.it, I have ascertained that charges from Marton to f. o. b., Wanganui, are approximately 3d per bushel and th?t from Murtou to Wellington approximately od per bushel on trucks. Prices at Marton would therefore bo approximately 5s lid for January, February and March and would increase per month thereafter until September. — I am etc. y W. D. S. MAuDONAL. 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 stongly urge the Board of Trade, to lix the price of local wheat to (is 2d per bushel, on trucks or at the flourmill door, and that the following committee ho appointed to present this resolution to the Board of Trade:—Mr E. Newman, M.P., Mr A. Stuart, Mr Goo. Henderson and Mr F. Purnell. ’ ’ The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.