WHEAT CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19848, 17 January 1920, Page 9

WHEAT CONFERENCE.

FARMERS MEET PRIME MINISTER. COMING SEASON’S PRICES DISCUSSED. A large number of farmers assembled in the Chamber of the Provincial Council buildings to-day to discuss with the Hon W. F. Massey the qubstion of raising the minimum prices for the coming season’s wheat. A preliminary meeting was held a f 10 n.m. when. Mr D. Jcr.es (president, of the North Canterbury Executive of tho Farmei s’ Union) presided. Most of those present at tho preliminary meeting were members of farmers’ unioua. After an hour’s discussion the meeting on a vote of those present decided upon prices fir throe grades of wheat whicli it was considered tho Government should fix. Mr Massey was accompanied by the Hon W. Nosworthy (Minister for Agriculture) and Dr O. .1. Reakes (DirectorGeneral of the Agricultural Department). Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., and Mr G. Witty, amongst those present, as well as members of the Board of Trade, Mr Jones, in opening the conference, said that he was very pleased to welcome tho Prime Minister. Ho was also pleased to welcome Mr Nosworthy as Minister for Agriculture. Mr Nosworthy was a farmer and understoo l the farmers’ business and it was satisfactory to have a man of that stamp at the head of the Agricultural Depanment. Mr Massey thanked the chairman for his hearty welcome and thanked those present for their cordial endorsement of it. He was there, lie said, to discuss with them an important question, important to them, important to him as head of the Government, and important to the people of tho country. > He believed that the conference would arrive at a satisfactory understanding. This year there had not been a sufficient area sown in wheat for the country'.* requirements. Ho did not think there was any serious difficulty now. With the estimated should bo available in New Zealand; the (Government had secured 2,000,090 in Australia', and thero was therefore 6,000 ; 000 to go and come upon. It was sufficient for next year,, but looking to that year waa not looking far enough ahead. One of tho reasons for the decreased area sown in wheat was the enormous increase in tho cost of production, another reason was that other departments of farming paid better than wheat growing. He hoped to he able to change that, although ho could not change tho cost of production for the next year or two. Tho object of the conference was to fix prices that would be fair to wheat-growers. The question concerned the South Island growers mainly hut affected consumers in all parts. Tho Government would hold tinbalance evenly between tho producers and the consumers. He did not see- an •> very serious difficulty in tho road. As he had said, however, the concern of the Now Zealand Government was not so much with this year as with future years. It wished to hear tho views ol growers before it went much further, in order that it should know exactly Whore it was. Mr Nosworthy said that the confer once should get down to business at once, as it waa useless to discuss tho question unless a definite proposal was made. The question must bo settled, and tho sooner the better. QUESTION OF PUBLICITY. Mr Witty asked if the business of tho conference would bo discussed in committee. He wished to know on whoso authority the chairman had said that the business would not be open to the Press. Mr Jones said that the point had been discussed at tho pijelimJuiafi'v meeting, and it was decided that hj was purely a matter of business between the fanners and the Prime Minister, Air Witty naked on what vote the decision was arrived at. Air Jones said that it was the vote or those present at the preliminary meeting, and that ho could not accept a motion by Mr Witty that the business should bo open to the Press. He suggested that the question should be discussed in committee with tho Prime ATimstor until 1 p.m., anfJ that a small committee then should he appointed to make final aiTaugemcnts with the Government. mw- ob f? tefl to an important quj-stion being left to a small commit Air Jones said that Air Alnssey had approved of his proposal, as a large conference could not come to a definite arrangement. Air Jones’s proposal was put to the conference as a motion, and was earned and the reporters withdrew