MOISTURE CONTENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 279, 24 November 1937, Page 9

MOISTURE CONTENT

PAYMENT FOR WHEAT NEW PRINCIPLE ANNOUNCED [ Per Press Association. J CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 23. An important announcement involving the adoption of a new principle, that of payment for wheat on moisture content, was made to-day by the chairman, Mr. 11. F. Nicoll, at the annual meeting of the electoral committee of United Wheatgrowers (N.Z.), Ltd. The wheat committee had, he said, taken a great step forward in its decision to adopt a system whereby the moisture content was to be taken into consideration in the purchase of wheat. The proposals, i which were to come into force witn next year’s harvest had been heartily endorsed by the electoral committee before being finally adopted. “Our attitude in this matter,” continued Mr. Nicoll, “should remove any suggestion that the wheatgrowers are apathetic concerning the condition of their wheat, ana we are prepared to stand behind the wheat committee in its efforts to improve the quality uf wheat, flour, and bread.” The system to be adopted will provide as follows: (a) Maximum moisture content for flour to be fixed at 15 per cent. (b) Wheat may be delivered up to 15.5 per cent, moisture content without any adjustment in price, but that where wheat contains more than the 15.5 per cent, an adjustment as provided below must be made, the method of test to be the Carter-Simon process and any dispute in regard to moisture content to be referred to the Wheat Research Institute, whose decision shall be final. (c) For wheal containing between 15.6 per cent, tu 16.6 per cent, of moisture a deduction of 4d a bushel shall be made, and millers shall be prohibited from accepting and farmers from delivering as F.A.Q. milling quality any wheat containing more than 16.5 per cent, moisture. No allowance for dockage will be made to the miller, but the 4d a bushel will be retained by the wheat committee provided that it will be permissible for the millers to dry the wheat on behalf of tne grower to the requisite moisture content, charging the grower for same and purchasing the wheat on the basis of 15 per cent, moisture content. Millers will be given warrants only on condition that they sign an undertaking to deduct the above mentioned dockage and not to accept wheat of more than 16.5 per cent, moisture.

EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT PRICE OF 1939 HARVEST 1 Per Press Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 23. It is probable that the price to be paid to farmers for wheat harvested in 1939 will be 5s a bushell f.o.b. This was foreshadowed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in a telegram to Mr. H. F. Nicoll, president of United Wheatgrowers (N.Z.) Ltd., which held its annual conference to-day. In his telegraphed message the Minister said: “Kindly inform through their delegates all wheatgrowers that the present conditions as well as facts recently disclosed by my personal investigation, give me solid reasons for believing that the price for the 1938/39 crop will be about the same as that recently announced for the coming harvest. I am making this announcement early in order that the wheat farmers may know in plenty of time what to expect and in doing so I express the hope that the acreage next year will be increased greatly and provide a sufficient yield for the Dominion’s full requirements during the year 1938/39. I realise that a much greater acreage would have been planted this year had it not been for the abnormally adverse weather conditions, the detrimental results of which I saw personally when I recently inspected the whea areas.” The Minister’s message was in reply to a resolution from the electoral committee of United Wheatgrowers (N.Z.) Ltd. thanking him for his efforts on behalf of the wheatgrowing industry and affirming its belief that the price fixed for 1938 was fair and reasonable, that the wheat and flour control scheme was the best yet devised and admirable for its purpose; and that the short acreage sown this season was not'due to any lack of effort on the part of the wheatgrowers. Messrs. A. Craig (Clydevale), R. T. McMillan Unveil), and W. W. Mulholland (Darfield), retiring directors, were re-elected unopposed. Mr. H. F. McNicol was re-elected chairman.