NEW ZEALAND MUST GROW ITS OWN WHEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 172, 23 July 1930, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND MUST GROW ITS OWN WHEAT.

(Published by. Arrangement.)

The advocates for protection for New Zealand industries have their strongest case in the result of the protection afforded the wheatgrower. To-day the Dominion produces approximately its total wheat and flour requirements. \part from the economic gain there is the important stratgetic advantage of assured supplies in the event of war, or the interruption of shipping occasioned hy strike. The economic gain is considerable. The Dominion's annual wheat crop is worth approximately £2,500,000. Approximately £1,000,000 only would be returned if the present wheat areas were converted to the production ol meat and wool. The protection of the wheat industry costs approximately £400,000 per annum. This subsidy could, therefore, be regarded as a national investment, which shows a return in the vicinity of £1,500,000. No other industry has such a claim for consideration and repays such consideration so handsomely. It is an appreciation of these facts that enabled the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. Mr. de la Perrelle) recently to state, "The Government will do nothing to harm the wheat industry in this country."