WHEAT MARKETING

Southland Times, Issue 20171, 6 May 1927, Page 7

WHEAT MARKETING

PROPOSED CONFERENCE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA ACTUAL POOL NOT CONTEMPLATED (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) New York, May 4. A Kansas City message states that preparations are proceeding for the opening tomorrow of one of the most important grain gatherings in the history of wheat marketing with representatives of Canada and Australia on hand to discuss world needs for grain. It is stated no worldwide wheat pool is contemplated, but it is planned to organise whereby the interests of all may be bettered. It is not known definitely what form co-operation will take, but several plans will be discussed during the three-day sessions. Three central selling organisations of United States have arrranged a meeting preceding the opening of the conference to discuss plans for forming a co-operative organisation extending throughout the nation. This meeting will be attended by delegates from nine of the principal wheatgrowing States. Mr King, interviewed, expressed amazement at the backwardness of American farming and banking methods. He said: — “At the long distance from which we are forced to judge, we consider it remarkable you carried on with the present banking system as long as you have.” Referring to the conference, he said he believed it would be a mutual understanding that would eventually produce a working agreement for world co-operation. The meeting was essentially to exchange ideas and ideals. They were not going to launch the idea as a mere bubble. If launched it would be practical and plain, and must have world organisation. They were quite conscious of the difficulties, and had figured out ways to meet them which, in his belief, were practicable.—A. and N.Z. GROWTH OF CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT. MORE POOL LESS POLITICS WANTED. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) New York, May 5. The chairman, Mr Burnell, delivering a welcoming address at the opening of the International Co-operative Wheat Pool Conference in Kansas City, said he was gratified with the reported progress of the pool movement in Canada, Australia, the United States and Russia. There were fifteen thousand more members in Canada than last year, and Ontario was organising a pool. He traced the growth of the co-oper-ative wheat movement in Canada, and added—“We in Canada believe the positive fact that a binding contract is an absolute essential to a successful wheat pool, and our five-year contract is the keystone of our success. Wheat pooling in Canada benefited not only the farmers but the whole of the Canadian business world.” Mr Burnell, referring to the effort toward co-operative marketing in other countries, said—“ What is needed is more pool and less politics.” He advocated a continual intensive campaign of co-operative education. The influence of the pool on prices was reflected in the world price. It was imperative that they should keep constantly before pool members the fact that the market price was made by the pool farmers. Selling should be organised so that it could stand on an equal footing with all other manufacturers. He stated that Canadian banks and businessmen interested were helping the pool—“If our movement is to succeed it must do more than obtain a good price for wheat. It. must take the means to let the farmer know the condition surrounding the sale of his grain. The cooperative movement is a crusade, and cooperators must be crusaders.” He stressed the necessity that all exporting countries must move together. “I have not anticipated any quarrel with the consumer. When he understands that the objective of wheat pools is to bring wheat prices into line with the prices of commodities which the farmer has to buy, it is my hope that agriculture may be the first to replace international competition by internal co-operation.”— A. and N.Z.