THE WHEAT DUTIES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 16, 31 October 1935, Page 6

THE WHEAT DUTIES

DEMOCRAT PARTY CRITICISED.

“ENEMY AT THE DOOR.” (Per Press Association.) WAIMATE, This Day. Criticism t of the Democrat proposal to remove the protective duty on wheat was voiced by the Hon. J. Bitchener (Minister of Works), in an address at Waimate. He said he believed that the proposal had. been quietly submerged, but if the Democrats gained power it would be revived. All the North Island members and some of the South Island would then support removal of protection. It would be a sorry day for the east coast of the South Island if the protection was removed. If wheat were imported 1 into New Zealand it would have the effect of increasing the production of fat lambs. In the Democrat Party the enemy was at the door so far as the wheat industry was concerned.

Mr Bitchener also criticised the Labour Party’s guaranteed price scheme, and said the Government had met the position ias fairly as possible by raising the rate of exchange. llie Minister outlined the Government’s assistance to farmers in the past, and spoke of its future policy on the lines of the National manifesto.

The speaker was accorded a vote of thanks. There was an .attendance of 400. At a meeting of supporters later, Mr Bitchener said that New Zealand owed less money than previously and the country was not drifting. The Dominion was not getting into debt and money was not being spent where there was no .reasonable return for it.