FLOUR IMPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1927, Page 4

FLOUR IMPORTS.

FURTHER PROTECTION SOUGHT. v BY CANTERBURY INTERESTS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A request was made to the Premier and to the Customs and Agriculture Ministers to-day, by a Canterbury deputation that the Government should impose a dumping duty on flour, or alternatively impose an upon importations, or set up a commission to inquire into the whole Question of wheat growing and milling. The Hon. Downie Stewart reviewed the policy of the Government as adopted in ; . Massey's time. He -aid they wished lnt< ? fere as little as possible. It was art -tt-ltl? e *i i Government should " tmost discretion and fairJVf® X 1 the matter of dumping duties If the Government abused its power there come Hp m l xvould no . t a t all satisfied that the millers were acting in the best interests ot the farmers. The utmost caution should nailers" 1 " Watching the action. 3

Referring to Distributors. Ltd Mr Stewart said he believed there was a j D ! e j or ., inquiry as to their attitude toward the farmers and the price of flour, and as to their general operations All the evidence he had showed that a great many things were being done in the direction of their obtaining a monopoly of control. That required investigation. Mr. Coates said he would put the matter before Cabinet in order that the statements made might be considered and a decision arrived at. They would inquire as to temporary methods, and then as }o whether' a commission was necessary. Personally he was not a- bit gone on commissions.