THE WHEAT QUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 164, 13 July 1929, Page 7

THE WHEAT QUESTION.

CUSTOMS MINISTER'S VIEWS

HIGH COST OF PRODUCTION',

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day.

"Can Ave so establish matters that tlie price of bread is reduced, and at the same time the production of wheat is increased?" asked the Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Customs, when discussing wheat duties in the House of Representatives. He believed it essential that New Zealand should produce 75 per cent of its wheat requirements; but he desired to point out that the same duty devolved on the wheat as upon everyone else engaged in the industry, of examining conditions under which wheat is produced, in order to ascertain it it could not be grown and made ready for distribution cheaper than had been the case in the past.

Mi*. Jones (Mid-Canterbury); We are all agreed upon that.'

"Our wheat-growing areas, with their wonderful fertility" continued Mr.Taverner, "and their regular seasons should be able to hold their own with those less favourably situated within, say, Australia. Production costs should be lowered, or, if that is impossible, the position should be plainly stated by those in order that the country might be in no doubt as to the position"? 5

The Minister quoted comprehensive figures to show wheat production yields and acreage, with comparison from New South Wales. He estimated tha bare cost of production of wheat in New Zealand at 5/3 a bushel, and in New South Wales at 4/8 per bushel. The estimated cost of converting wheat into flour in New Zealand, £4 per ton, New South Wales £2 1/ per ton. "There, is room for investigation there/' concluded Mr. Taverner. '