WHEAT DUTIES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 269, 27 August 1935, Page 2

WHEAT DUTIES

POLICY OF DEMOCRAT PARTY.

NO STATEMENT BY LEADER.

(Special to the “ Guardian.”)

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

"When the policy of the Detuo.vat Party was outlined at the time the formation of the party was announced ton September 30 last year), one ol its main proposals was the ‘ abolition of the duties on wheat and other grains, thereby reducing the cost of tiead and encouraging the production of pigs and poultry. ’ The announcement, made hr a Press Association message, of the selection of M. T. C. A. Hislop, Mayor of Wellington, as the leader of the party, contains a list of the major points of the party’s policy as they were outlined by Mr Hislop; but no indication is giten of the party’s attitude toward the wheat duties.

The omission of any reference to wheat duties is important, because it is considered that if the party retains this proposal in its policy it' will meet a good deal of opposition in the South Island. On the other hand, interests in the North Island,' particularly in the Auckland Province, strongly favour its retention. '

Mr Hislop was asked by telephone last night to define the policy of ms party on this point, hut he refused to make any statement at present that would commit/ his party. He said, however, that the omission of any reference in his statement to wheat duties was not studied, and an announcement could be expected later. He was asked if he knew what the party’s policy on this point would be, and he replied that he did; but he would not say what ifc was. “Not Telling.” When his attention was drawn to the reference in the statement issued last year, Mr Hislop said he did not know anything about what was decided then, hut the definition of the party’s policy about wheat duties would be made when the partly’s candidates were on the platform. The fact that nothing had been said about the question in his statement made that day did not mean that the omission was studied. The statement was only a general outline of policy, and the details would he forthcoming later.

It was pointed out to Mr Hislop, however, that he must be in a position to know what his party's policy on this point was, and he was asked if he could say definitely what attitude his party would take. He said that the conference of candidates heid last week toj formulate a policy had discussed the point, and the party had definitely a point in its policy which dealt with wheat duties. “ I know what it is, and our candidate down there knows what it is, he said, “hut I am not telling you anything more about it at present.