BARLEY INDUSTRY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20587, 28 November 1936, Page 8

BARLEY INDUSTRY

DISSATISFIED WITH AGREEMENT

MINISTER SURPRISED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, November 27. In an interview, the Hon. W. Lee Martin expressed- surprise and disappointment that the voluntary arrangement made in the interests of barley growers was viewed with such concern by the North Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union. A representative gathering of farmers was held in Christchurch on July 10 under the auspices of the Farmers’ Union, at which resolutions asking the Government to obtain increased prices for barley, institute independent grading conducted by the Department of Agriculture and in general to assist the barley industry were unanimously passed, and a deputation was formed to interview him on the question.

“The deputation came to Wellington and placed barley growers’ problems before me, and I promised to look into the whole matter and give whatever assistance I could,” said Mr Martin. “It is thus obviously clear that the Government was definitely approached by representatives of the barley growers and Farmers’ Union to assist the industry, and it now appears to me to be very strange that the president of the Farmers’ Union should publicly castigate the Government for attempting to secure better prices for the barley growers of the Dominion. I am assured by my colleague, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, that he has no recollection of any promise such as is attributed to him by Mr McMillan. The barley growers are fully aware that differential prices based on quality for malting purposes have exjgted for many years, and the Government in the negotiations has been able to sustain these differential rates but at prices which will afford them approximately 6d a bushel more than they received last year.

Benefit Conferred

“The statement that the new Canterbury price represented only 3d a bushel increase is not strictly correct. Approximately half the malting barley produced in Canterbury last year was grown on contract at 3/6 a bushel, and I am assured that no difficulty was experienced this season in arranging contracts for more than 5000 acres of Canterbury barley at a price of 3/8 a bushel. Such contracting growers will now receive by way of bonus 4d a bushel over and above their contract price. It has to be pointed out that the Government has not fixed prices for malting barley as would appear from the remarks of Mr Mulholland. All that has been done has been to secure for the barley growers of the Dominion by negotiation with the principal buyers a fair price for malting barley for this season and provision for independent grading of all disputed lines. The principal buyers have also agreed to institute a system of contract growing which was represented by the growers as a most desirable provision, and I think it must be generally conceded that the price agreement and improved conditions relating to the barley industry as a result of the negotiations carried out at the request of the growers has resulted in a very satisfactory arrangement without the necessity of special legislative action.” A SOUTHLAND PROTEST By Teiegrapn—Press Association

INVERCARGILL, November 27.

Exception was taken by the monthly meeting of the Southland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day to the action of the Government in fixing prices for malting barley without, it was said, consulting the growers. Mr J. J. Crampton, who moved that the executive record its protest, said that there was strong indignation in Canterbury. Growers had asked for a price of 5/- a bushel and curiously enough, any deviation that had been made from that price was in favour of the buying Interests. Growers in the Garston district were asked to accept 6d a bushel less than districts only 40 miles away. “Whatever the price is it should be the same all over,” Mr Crampton said. “I don’t wonder at Canterbury’s objections.” The motion was seconded by Mr A. H. McLean and carried.