BETTER WEATHER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20890, 20 November 1937, Page 4

BETTER WEATHER

FARMERS WELCOME RAIN THE WHEAT POSITION Gratification that the threatened drought had broken was expressed by the chairman of the South Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union at yesterday’s meeting. Present—Messrs W. Buchan (chairman), C. Ley, B. E. Evans, P. R. Talbot, D. M. France. A. E. Dobson, J. Trotter, A. J. Davey, H. L. Adam, G. Blakemore, J. C. Hay, A. W. Barnett, J. Macauley, W. H. Staniland, L. Donehue, G. Wooding, J. Hall, G. A. Davey, L. V. Talbot, W. M. Black, C. V. Leslie, G. Mulligan, A. Robinson and J. Dempsey. “Last Tuesday,” said Mr Buchan, “we were in the grip of one of the worst droughts in the history of the district.” Fortunately, however, rain had come and it meant a great deal to them all. Early in October, when rain was required, none fell, and the wheat and oat crops were placed in serious danger. There would be a wheat shortage, said Mr Buchan, and the Government would have to import about 5,000,000 bushels. The position was serious and in his opinion the industry should be safeguarded by the growing of sufficient wheat to allow for a carry over in the Dominion. If hostilities were to break out in the Pacific New Zealand would be placed in a serious predicament. The Temuka Branch submitted a remit that the Minister of Industries and Commerce be asked to announce the price of wheat for the succeeding season before December each year. Mr Hay said he understod that a scheme was under consideration by the wheat authorities which should improve the present position. The idea, he thought, was to fix a basic price—probably the present price of 5/9 which could be adjusted each year according to the costs of production. The following Waimate remit was carried: (1) “That in the event of a reduction of weight in sacks of produce exceeding 401 b. to the bushel no sack will be acceptable to producers that will not hold a minimum of three bushels f.a.q. milling wheat.”