THE GRAIN MARKET.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13012, 27 June 1906, Page 7

THE GRAIN MARKET.

To the Editor of the "Timaro Herald." Sir, —In yttir issue, of a recent date there appe:t!sd figures given ~by Mr Leadley, of A"bburton, pointing out to his fellow- farmers that they were not receiving 'a fair price for their -wheat. Mr Leadley showed the farmers ■, clearly that it was nothing but bluff on thV part of the miQers and merchants to say that they could bring -wheat from Australia, and that if the fanner keeps his wheat b'a ft-iil have to receive a fair price for it in defiance of the Millers* Trust and other combines. Mr Leadley must have gone to a lot of trouble and also expense in collecting such a lot of information, and every farmer in New Zealand is indebted to him. I also noticed that Mr Newman's opinion was asked azd given with good grace. He as much as said that Mr Leadley did not know what he was talking about, that his figures were in error, and went so far as te- tay the farmers should take no notice of them. Now I will ask the farmers, of South Canterbury to give a little consideratjjQn to the action of Mr Newman, a gentleman holding the position that he does, and looked upon by the general public as being in the confidence of all farmers. Merchants will come t<S the conclusion that all the reports of bad crops and scarcity of wheat is only bogue, and of course the millets will hold out until many a struggling farmer that is in need of money will be forced to sell. I have got the most reliable information that six threshing mills ?c this district are 30 per cent. short of last year, and there is not a] stack of wheat to be threshed in a radios o? twenty mQes?-. . I am, etc, MORVEN. [We have eliminated a portion of our correspondent's letter attributing motives to Mr Newman for the opinions he expressed to our reporter. Nobody who disagrees with Mr Newman is obliged to follow his advice.—Ed. T.H.]