STILL CHAMPION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 82, 6 April 1918, Page 4

STILL CHAMPION.

NEW ZEALAND WHEAT. ITS VALUE TO THE DOMINION. {Reprint from the "Auckland Star," August 10th, 1917.] Mr. Masse., in replying to a question put to him in Parliament by tbe Hon. D. Buddo, member for Kaiapoi, on Wednesday, stated that the complaints made by I Southern millers, regarding the effect ot [ the heavy Importation of Australian flour into New Zealand, would receive the early | consideration of the Cabinet. The matter lls undoubtedly important, because it raises the 'Whole subject of wlieat-growing In New Zealand. The suggestion has been matte that New Zealand could be more profitably with breadstuff's from Australia than from local sources. But experience during the past three years certainly docs not bear out that conclusion, because in 1915, a year of drought In Australia, that country imported some millions of bushels of wheat, and wns, therefore, not in a position to supply New Zealand. Flour In Australia reached the nigh rate of £17 ana £18 per ton. Assuming, however, that thlr. Dominion could depend upon Australia for Its supply of wheat and flour, would it be wise to reduce New Zealand to the position of a pastoral country? If we take the policy of the Labour Government of the Commonwealth itself as a guide, the answer Is certainly In the negative, because the Federal tariff Imposes a protective duty of £2 10/ a ton on all Imported flour, and 1/6 per cental on wheat, whereas the New Zealand customs duties are only £1 a tou on flour and 9d per cental on wheat. Canada, one of the great grain-growing countries of the world, also considers it sound policy to guarantee fanners 8/ a bushel to grow wheat for the English market. Now, let us consider what the discontinuance of wheat-growing In Sew Zealana and our dependence on Australia would really mean. The Dominion's wheat requirements amount to 6,500,000 bushels per annum. The Hon. Mr. Mac Donald's recent purchases of wheat for New Zealand from Australian which are so enormous that vast quantities are being eaten by mice, was 0/6 a bushel f.o.b. Without reckoning shipping charges, therefore, the value of this wheat. If produced In New Zealand, would be £1,787,500, and that sum, plus freight across, would represent our annual payment to Australia for supplying this fertile agricultural country with Its daily bread! But this by no means represents tbe total industrial loss to New Zealand. Half the value "of the wheat (£803,750), it may be safety assumed, goes in the labour of production and threshing. Under normal conditions grain contributes about three-llfths of the Canterbury railway revenue. ir wheat-growing were killed it would Increase other railage rates to make good the deficiency. New Zealand coal is used for threshing and manufacturing wheat Into flour, and various other local industries nre benefited by the wheat-growing industry. The introduction of Australian flour also affects very seriously the pastoral -Industry, which advocates of free Importation suggest would be more profitable than agriculture. Bran and pollard • are always required for the dairy, bacon, and poultry industries. A large quantity of bran is also used for horse-feed. At present the demand Is much greater than the supply, because the heavy importations of Australian flour prevent the Dominion mills from running to keep up the supply, through the dumping of the Australian surplus Into New Zealand markets at a rate of duty which Is 30/ a ton below the Commonwealth tariff. At the present time farmers are being oskeo. £7 10/ a ton net for bran, a price approaching the rate at which flour has been sold at In New Zealand In plentiful seasons. The Board of Trade considered that with flour In Auckland, at £15 12/ a ton, the price for bran should not exceed £4 12/6. But even at £7 10/, or at any higher rate that might be offered, the winter requirements of stocK could not he supplied. What would the position be if wheat growing and flourmllling in New Zealand were abandoned? J The fact is that wheat-growing Is one or the most valuable Industries in New Zea-i | land, and It Is to the public Interest that ; farmers shall -be encouraged to go in more for mixed farming, and that suitable lands { in the North Island shall be placed under grain crops. With regard to the quality of New Zealand wheat, it has commanded the highest prices In the London markets, in competition- with grain grown In the principal -wheat-growing countries of the world. The suggestion that New Zealand shall lapse into a purely pastoral country and Bhall become dependent upon Australia for its daily bread Is so utterly retrogressive that we can hardly conceive of any respon-, sible person putting It forward seriously.