THE WHEAT-GROWER SCORES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1926, Page 8

THE WHEAT-GROWER SCORES.

Those to whom the price of bread is not an anxiety may find a vein of comedy in the Government's relations with the wheat-growers of the South Island, but the bread-winner whose financial margin is small will be troubled by the latest developments of local policy and world markets. The Government is as anxious to please the grower as a lover is to accommodate himself to the moods of his lady. Whatever the grower wishes is done, and done quickly. A renewal of control was recently asked for, and promptly conceded. Then, however, the wheat-growpr, scanning the markets of the world, thought he could get more in a free market, and asked for freedom of contract. This was immediately granted. The consumer, however, is now saying something, and we are not surprised. One of the conditions of the free market asked for by the grower is that the duty of 1/3 per bushel shall remain. But. as is pointed out in an article in our commercial columns, even without this duty the local grower would enjoy what is likely to be the highest price on record, and the duty simply raises the price to the local consumer by its amount The wheat-grower would have nothing to complain about 'f lie received the lower price; indeed, lie, would lie what is colloquially described as "'on velvet."' The duty is really a subsidy granted to a producer who is already well off. and it is estimaied that it will put £2.">0.O00 in his pocket. Every household will contribute to this present. Also, tho poultry industry will have to pay through the nose for its fowl feed, and this will be reflected in higher prices of Pggs. We have frequently contended that the wheat industry needs no more protection than that given through the tariff. The circumstances now. however, are so exceptional that it is very questionable whether this protective duty on wheat should be continued for this harvest. Doubts on the subject are not weakened by the fact that after all the tinkering with (he market that has gone on during the past icw years, growers produce so little wheat that the country is four million bushels short of its requirements. For some years the grower has had every consideration. Why not give the consumer some during this period of exceptionally high prices? The Government should carefully reconsider this matter in all its bearings.