WHEAT GROWERS

Southland Times, Issue 20043, 3 December 1926, Page 7

WHEAT GROWERS

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE DISPOSAL OF NEW SEASON’S CROP EMBARGO ON FLOUR IMPORTS URGED (Per United Press Association.) Ashburton, December 2. Between seventy and eighty representatives of branches and provincial executives of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, A. and P. Associations and wheat-growers in North, Mid and South Canterbury met to-day to discuss problems in connection with the marketing of the new season’s wheat crop. The conference, which was convened by the Mid-Canterbury Executive of the union, was presided over by the president of that body, Mr J. Carr. The Hon. O. J. Hawken, who had been invited to attend, telegraphed that he thought it inadvisable for the Government to be represented at. this stage, but he would be glad to hear the result of the conference. The Hon. W. F. Nosworthy advised that he could not attend owing to a prior engagement and the uncertain position in regard to the freezing industry.

Mr W. W. Mulholland outlined the problem as it faced the growers to-day. They would probably have between 7,000,000 and ‘ 8,000,000 bushels of wheat to be disposed of this coming season. Unless they had some means of handling the surplus they were bound to see prices go down below the economic value. Another aspect of the problem' was the relative value of imported wheat and flour. This needed adjustment. Proceeding, the speaker referred to the proposed association of wheat-growers that would be concerned in the first place with obtaining information and allotting members to determine the value of their wheat. Further, the association should have power to remove any surplus of wheat from the market. From the point of view of the country as well as the wheat-growers it would be disastrous if prices fell, say, 2/6, as a result of the surplus. It would mean that the wheat crop the following year would fall by 50 per cent. If they were to solve problems before them they had to make up their minds to a settled policy. Many aspects of the question were discussed by the ‘conference, which sat from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mr G. W. Leadley moved, and Mr W. T. Lili seconded, “That considering the disparity in Australian flour quotations, viz., £l5 10/- per ton, for local (Australian) consumption, as against £l2 per ton for export, this meeting, representative of wheat-growers, views with considerable apprehension the effect upon our local wheat market and the future of the wheat-growing industry in New Zealand, and respectfully urges upon the Government the necessity of imposing an embargo on the importation of flour.” On the suggestion of Mr Carpenter (Rangiora) a clause was added that the embargo be applied until New Zealand wheat was all sold. Mr Lr V. Talbot (Temuka) moved as an amendment, “That the Government be asked to increase the duty on flour by £1 a ton, failing which the Government be asked to arrange a readjustment of the duties between wheat and flour.” Mr McMillan (North Canterbury) seconded the amendment, which was lost by a substantial majority on the show of hands. The motion was carried. Mr Talbot then moved that a Grain Growers’ Association be formed to obtain reliable information concerning grain statistics and values was carried with one dissentient. Mr R. T. McMillan (North Canterbury) moved, and Mr J. McAnulty (Methven) seconded, and it was carried, “That in the event of an embargo being refused, we ask for an increase on the duty on flour by 25/- a ton.” The following deputation was appointed to place matters before the Government:— Messrs G. W. Leadley, A. M. Carpenter and J. Carr, with a South Canterbury representative to be appointed later. The final motion carried was that a committee be appointed to follow up the resolution for forming a wheat-growers’ organisation to consist of one representative from each of the provincial Farmers’ Union districts and the Canterbury, Ashburton and South Canterbury A. and P. Associations,

such committee to have power to act as a wheat-growers’ executive, the North Canterbury Executive to be convenor.