WHEAT-GROWING PROBLEMS

Southland Times, Issue 23287, 25 August 1937, Page 16

WHEAT-GROWING PROBLEMS

COMMITTEE VISITS WINTON NECESSITY FOR INCREASE IN PRICE Members of the Wheat Committee visited Winton on Saturday afternoon and addressed a gathering of some 50 wheat growers and their wives in the Masonic Hall. The visitors were introduced by Mr J. Hargest, M.P., and included Mr L. J. Schmitt, secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce and deputy-chairman of the Wheat Committee, Mr Robert McPherson, general manager of the Wheat Committee, Mr A. Craig, a director of the United Wheat Growers’ Association and Mr C. S. Sapsford, district' officer of the Department of Industries and Commerce of Christchurch. Mr T. Hamilton, who presided, expressed appreciation of the visit, which presented an opportunity to submit the particular problems confronting wheat growers in this locality. Continuing, Mr Hamilton said that wheat growing was an essential industry in an island country, and, from a foodstuff aspect, the value of growing sufficient wheat to meet the Dominion’s own requirements was inestimable, especially in view of unforeseen circumstances. Southland had the land to produce wheat, and the majority of those present, and their families before them, had always been wheat growers. However, through the high cost of production, climatic conditions and the price of other produce from mixed farming, of which Southland was mostly comprised, the area of wheat sown was detrimentally affected. The Government must recognize that there was no industry in New Zealand that could absorb such an amount of unskilled labour as wheat growing. Today there were some 38,000 to 40,000 males wholly or partially dependent upon the. Employment Promotion Fund, but, if the price of wheat rose to make the industry attractive to growers, a big percentage of the unemployed would be absorbed in the industry. With an attractive price, instead of a huge amount of money spent in importing wheat into New Zealand in case of a shortage, the Dominion would have enough wheat for its own wants, the burden on the unemployment fund would be relieved and, furthermore, the money would be kept in the country. The speaker, instancing an increase in the price of wheat, said that, if the price rose by 1/2 a bushel, it would not represent more than one penny a loaf over the whole of New Zealand. It was recognized that the average household consumption of bread was about four loaves a week, meaning only an increase of 4d a week, in the cost of living. PRICE OF BREAD Everyone must recognize that the standard of living and purchasing power of the people were higher than ever before, and it appeared that too much was made of the price of bread, in which any increase was greeted by a general outburst from one end of New Zealand to the other. But if tobacco, or. sugar, or any such commodity was increased in price, the position was accepted as a matter of course. Wheat was not only grown as an essential food commodity, but was also essential to poultry .farmers and pig growers for bran and pollard requirements. In conclusion, Mr Hamilton said it appeared that, unless the price of wheat was made. attractive enough, in comparison with other produce of the land, to guarantee that New Zealand’s requirements would be home-grown, the wheat industry would undoubtedly go out. Among others who explained the case of the growers of this end and supported the representations put forward at the meeting were Messrs T. S. Smith and J. H. Swale (Winton), W. P. Hishon (Oreti), S. H. Day (Lady Barkly), W. Kerr (Browns), A. McDonald, W. J. Caldwell and T. Fahey (Roslyn Bush), E. Malcolm, H. and F. Collie (Bayswater), R. Shuttleworth (Benmore), W. J. Martin, C. McDonald, F. Gerrard and R. A. Palmer (Dipton). Mrs T. S. Smith stated the trials confronting the wheat grower’s wife in obtaining domestic help during the harvesting season. This aspect of the position had become a serious problem and the speaker, in stressing the importance of a solution as an aid to the grower in his work, urged the Minister’s consideration in an endeavour to alleviate the difficulty. Mr A. Craig said that the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) was taking a real interest in the affairs of the wheat growers. The speaker said that there was a great variation in the cost of producing wheat throughout New Zealand and that was where the difficulty arose in fixing a. price. The views of the growers were appreciated as giving the Wheat Committee a fuller insight into the problems of the respective districts., Mr L. J. Schmitt apologized for the absence of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, and said that Mr Sullivan had mentioned that in fixing the price for the new season, the price fixed last year and the actual price obtained for the wheat would be ttaken into consideration. During the party’s tour of Canterbury and Otago, in no two districts did they find similar land or a similar yield. There were big variations and it was a problem for the Minister to set a price. Referring to the difficulties of the Southland growers, Mr Schmitt said that the wheat from the province had rather a big moisture content. This presented the difficulty, but if a scheme the Minister had in mind proved successful, by which the wheat would be dried when it entered the flour mill,. the result would be of great benefit to Southland growers. At present some 3000 acres of wheat were sown annually in the province, but to satisfy the wants of the province alone about 12,000 acres should be sown. He was sure that if anything could be done to arrange the prices to suit the conditions in different areas, the Minister would do all in his power in this direction. The price was a problem for which a solution was anxiously desired. The Minister had been told by fanners in some districts that the price was right, by others that they could just about make, ends meet, while others said it was not paying them to carry on. Mr Schmitt emphasized the need for increased wheat growing, as serious difficulties would arise if the industry were to die out. The industry had to be encouraged and one step taken—a definite embargo on the importation of wheat into New Zealand—must have greatly assisted the Dominion growers. There was a possibility of a five-year development plan for the industry, and the speaker supported the Minister’s idea of a basic price to be fixed from year to year. Referring to the matter of domestic help. Mr Schmitt said that the representations would be duly placed before the Minister, who realized the difficulty and had already promised to take this aspect of the case into full consideration. Mr R. McPherson, general manager and secretary of the Wheat Committee, fully explained questions dealing with the handling and marketing of the product. At the end of the meeting Mr Hamilton thanked the members of the committee for their visit and information, and the growers for their attendance, while Mr Schmitt proposed a vote of thanks to the chairmaq.