WHEAT DUTIES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 201, 11 June 1929, Page 7

WHEAT DUTIES

TARANAKI ATTITUDE.

** NOT THE SLIGHTEST OBJECTION.”

(Soecial to tbe “Guardian.”} CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. In a definite statement to a reporter yesterday, executive officers of the. South Taranaki Farmers’ Union made clear their attitude toward the imposition of the wheat duty, statins; that the farmers of South Taranaki generally entertained not the slightest opposition to the wheat producers of the South Island. They stated that during their visit to the South Island they had been taxed with being up against the South Island farmers, but actually they had never discussed the question. The rumours in_the South Island had arisen from political propaganda, set on foot in Taranaki during the election. “We have never discussed this question, and to say 'that we are up against the South Island wheat producers is most incorrect,” said Mr W. E. Carter, vice-president *>f __ Hue "South' Taranaki Farmers' Union. “I speak for our party and for the South Taranaki farmers generally. What we do object to is the difference between what the farmers get here and what we have to pay for fowl wheat, pig feed, etc. We have never opposed the duty, and we greatly welcome the opportunity of correcting an erroneous impression. Our local member of Parliament for Egmont, Mr C. A. Wflkiraton, made the question a political ‘ stunt ’ during the election. One Canterbury wheat-grower told us that if there ■ was a reduction of a penny per loaf in bread it would mean that wheat would have to be brought down to 4s a bushel. That, of course, would be impossible.” Mr E; J. "Betts, president of jfche Union, said that accusations of opposition to the c|.uty had been fired' at the party from all directions, and they desired to correct the wrong impression as to their attitude. Mr E. X. Cameron, eecrgtarv of the Union, said he had made a very effi dent exposition of the Union’s attitude when at Ashburton. - “If wheat were done away with in Hie South Island,” said Mr Betts, “ Australia would very soon jump up *■ < the price. All the noise in Taranaki was purely political propaganda, and not one farmer in a hundred took any Interest in the Question of the wheat duty before Jbhe election. When we came here we learned a lot. We are not concerned about flour so much as wheat, pig-feed, etc. The party and t "the Union are very sorry that the j question ever arose. We* would like' to see the production of wheat profit-) able without the duty, Jrut of course, we would rather ,see the duty than that tlie wheat should not he grown.”