THE WHEAT PROBLEM.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 22 March 1927, Page 8

THE WHEAT PROBLEM.

SUGGESTED SOLUTION OF DIFFICULTY. PRIME MINISTER TO COME TO TIMARU.

When the Prime Minister (Hon. J., G. Coates) was passing tnrougli imiarii yesterday, a. ueput-auon representing the wheat-growjjig interests waited upon lam and asked hi:m to come to 'lunaru at an early date to go into the whole matter of the wheat-growing industry, with growers in general. The deputation consisted of Mr J. Bitchener M. i'., tor Waitaki, Mr T. D. Burnett M.P., tor Tcinuka, Mr P. R. Talbot, Mr, J. C. King (chairman of directors of the Timaru Milling Company), Mr A. M. H. Shirtcliff manager of the C.F.C.A.), and Mr A. Thoreau (secretary to the Farmers’ Union). 1 Messrs Bitchener and BuvnMt, M.iVs, stressed the fact that the wheat-growers were “up against it,” and that it was imperative that the Government should take some action immediately if tlie industry wore to bo saved from extinction. Mr Burnett said that he had been greatly (impressed by the strength of feeling on the matter when he had been attending stock sales of late, and he was convinced from what bo had seen and heard that there was’ need for immediate action. The Prime Minister said he wished to make it clear at the outset that he wanted to deal direct with the wheat growers. The Government recognised that it had a duty to perform, but its duty was the consumers as well as to. the producers. He would be very glad to listen t{> all that they might have to say, and would visit Timaru on Tuesday, March 29, for that purpose. (Applause). He would arrive from vhe south by the express at 1.30 p.m. and would go on to Christchurch . by the second express, if the business could be got through in that time-; if not, lif would be quite prepared to stop longer As to whether wheat-growing was an essential industry, he could give Vis opinion right off, but there was a good deal more than that to discuss, and bo did not think it wise to make any official statement until all the facts had been thoroughly considered. He hoped tliev would come to the meeting wjt.h all the facts, and he would particularly like information as to the cost cf production. He had received a copy of the scheme suggested in _ Timaru. and consideration was being given to it, as well as to other asoeets cf the matler. The denutation thanked the Minister and withdrew.

THE SUGGESTED SCHEME, in reply to a "Herald” reporter, tne Prime Minister said he had no ob.ection to the publication of the scheme suggested lrom Timaru. It is >s follows : _ Millers to agree to accept £l< per ton i.0.b., for flour, £6 per , ton f.o.b. for bran and £8 per ton i.0.b., for pollard, and to| pay on the basis of an average price ot 6s per bushel f.o.b. Timaru, sacks extra, lor milling wheat, sufficient for millers’ requirements. ' . Conditions. —That an emoargo, to last until at least the 31st March, 1928, be imposed on Australian ffeur. That all flour mills in New Zealand are in agreement with these prices, or the equivalent, at the respective worts, on the scale that usually obtains. That a levy of a price per ton to be agreed upon, be made, t,o compensate. as far as possible those larmiers who "have sold their wheat cnder 'the suggested price, and also those millers whose average cost is above same. Each mill to agree, to pay into this pool the- difference between the actual cost of its purchases to date, and the above price. /»lso to subsidise the necessary crntrol scheme in proportion to each mill s out-put in regard to the total output, in respect of the total expenses of such control. . That the merchant or broker obtain his commission for selling, where sales are effected through these

agencies, from thei seller.

PETITION EOR SIGNATURE.

Yesterday afternoon a meeting was held in the board room of the C.E.C.Alor the purpose, chiefly, of drawing up a form of petition tor signature by wheat-growers. Mr P. R- -talbot piehldcii, and there were also present Ml' T. D. Burnett, M.R., Messrs J. G. King. J! Cielaud, A. M. H. bhirtclift, A. Tnoreau au<l Bruce Gillies. Mr Burnett stud lie -/nought they should promote a monster petition ana mow the Prime Minister tne difficulties under which wheat-growers . were, labouring, and the unprofitable nature of the industry. At the in hettr>U be held in Timaru on March 29, lie ' hoped there would be a monstei attendance. On the train coming m from Temuka that morning he had mentioned the matter to Mr Coates, and had persuaded linn to ' islt ,V‘ maru on las return from, the soutn. prime Minister was most .sympathetic. He' had been constder--1 whether lit would be possible to diT something in the nature of a pool. He wad not enamoured, or an embaigo but considered that it might be possible to do something through an. dutv The millers were shot, ing ai le generated and chastened spirit said Mr Burnett, and lie hoped that somethin"- would be. done. In their Llk to the Prime ’Minister there should be no recriminations and the past should be completely dropped. J hey should show that the average iarmer could not possibly make wheat-growing pay.at ps icr bushel. The fall m the price of lamb store sheep and dairy puxlipe was serious, and the wheat growqw should take full ajutage ot t s opporthnit-y to prove to , Minister that they are at pusent b °\ < li' hL p' Ut H. Talbot said the farmers would be satisfied with a thev were not looking lot <nn tdll( W A and he believed that they wotdd be satisfied with /6s per bushel. He felt sure that the, millers would come into u> workable sclicni©. . • it the. iigi'eccl that the following ‘“.‘.‘E. ft 1 UrtWlfrth' M »“ Sf*^-** our labour, we ask you to do fcpropthiim for the encouragement ot tne wheat-growing industry, as we cumpfe continue to produce wheat at a Kgs, and in our opinion, wheat-gum ing is an essential industry in tins “We have it oil the authority ot more than one miller that it would be possible for the Government to stabilise the price of wheat at round about bs per bushel, without any increase m the present price of bread. “We respectfully ask the Government to do this, or to formulate some other scheme for the protection and encouragement of this all-cmportaut industry. Wo aroj etc. .. . - It was agreed that the public meeting should bo held in the IheaH'O Roval, commencing at 1.45 p.m. March 29, and a committee consisting of Messrs Cleland, Shirtcliff and King was appointed to arrange for speakers. Mr J. Bitchener, M.P., will bo asked to preside.

Word was received in Timaru _ yesterday that representatives if North Otago wheat-growers will attend tjio Timaru nice tint:.