WILL POOL BE FORMED BY WHEATGROWERS?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17833, 29 April 1926, Page 11

WILL POOL BE FORMED BY WHEATGROWERS?

FARMER’S UNION TALKS OVER PRELIMINARIES.

The question of whether a pool should be formed by the wheatgrowers of Canterbury and Xew Zealand as a protection to themselves was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the executive of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. It was eventually decided to adopt the suggestion of the agricultural committee that a conference be called to go fully into the matter.

Reporting on behalf of the Agricultural committee Mr W. W. Mul* holland said that steps were being taken to arrange for informal discussions by associations interested discussions by associations interested in wheat growing. The object was to ascertain if there was a sufficient desire to warrant a definite attempt being made at establishing an organisation for protection. Once they discovered that there was such a desire amongst the growers it would be easy to set up the lines along which the organisation would work. When the time came for holding a conference it would have behind it the definite opinions of growers throughout the Dominion. The market here would be looked on as the basis, regardless of any surplus for export. Speaking personally, and not for the committee, Mr Mulholland said that from information he had received there was going to be an unusually large quantity of wheat grown this year. There was already a great deal in the ground, and a lot of land had been prepared for growing. In March next year there might be a grave uncertainty as to a surplus. That would be a bad thing for growers, as it would have an ill effect on their prices. That was one of the strongest reasons why the organisation was necessary.

He did not think the growers desired a pool \vhich was going to operate in the same way as they were operating in Australia. They wanted an organisation, however, that would be powerful enough to act in any crisis. The organisation would have to be free from any outside influence, and would look solely to the interests of growers. Regarding finance the members should pay a membership fee of, say, £1 or £2 per annum, together with levies which could be collected by the stock and station agents whose clients the growers happened •to be. These levies would only be made for the purpose of assisting the organisation in, any particular direction. The best levy would be one on the bushel. Funds should be held in reserve to enable the organisation to step in at a critical time and purchase wheat.

He had heard that day that 2d more per bushel was being paid in Timaru, and that there was a distinct hardening of the market in Christchurch. The president, Mr J. D. Hall, said it was necessary to see that the present season's wheat was not sacrificed. Regarding the future, what they had to ascertain was what was in the minds of the majority of the growers, whether they thought they could handle their wheat better as individuals than by an organisation. The day might come when without organisation they would have to suffer. It would have to be decided whether they would get enough members to form a pool and make investigations regarding prices. Mr A. M. Carpenter said there was a stir in his district in connection with the proposed organisation. A deputation was going to the Government this week on the question of duties on flour. The Minister of Agriculture had announced that next year duties were to be imposed on milling wheat and fowl wheat. This would have an effect on the organisation. If an import duty was also put on flour it would make a difference to the price of wheat that was going to be grown here. The branches should Consider the question and bring recommendations before the conference.

Mr H. Oliver expressed the opinion that there was still,a good deal of diffidence about wheat.

Mr Mulholland: We’re winning. Mr Oliver; we’re beating the millers hands down.

Mr Oliver said a section of the fanners would go with the A. and P. Association and not with the Farmers’ Union. They would have to take the A. and P. Association tvith them.