WHEAT PRICES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17230, 22 December 1923, Page 2

WHEAT PRICES.

A MINISTERIAL REPLY. Per Press Association. , ASHBURTON, December 22. Mr G. W Leadley. chairman of the Wheat Board, in explaining the wheat price arrangement to the Mid-Canter-bury Farmers’ Union last week, said that the delay was occasioned by the absence of the Minister who was on holiday in the North Island. The llou W. Nosworthy telegraphed last night from Wellington as follow: * —“ My attention has been directed to a statement regarding the wheat position by. Mr Leadley. chairman of the Wheat Board, which appeared in Saturday’s e Guardian’. Numerous engagements in connection with land, agricultural, immigration and tourist matters necessitated my absence in O'ttlj'ing parts of the North Island, but Mr Leadley evidently has no conception of the arduous nature of the work, combined with the hours 'which these visits entail, otherwise he would have refrained from giving expression to such unfair and entirely misleading remarks in the second paragraph of newspaper report. As far as the alleged continued efforts to find me, these must have been verv half-rhearted and no inquiry for my address reached me or mv officials. A telegram to me at Wellington would have produced the required information. Moreover, I have been kept fully posted with what has transpired and some four weeks ago arranged to hold conference on December 20 with the manager of the W'heat Board and the Department’s representatives. Surely Mr Leadley was aware of this. At the time of sending this message, I am still -awaiting the necessary information to enable me to deal with this matter. In the circumstances, the remarks of the chairman are not only uncalled for, but are extremely mischievous.”