WHEAT IMPORTATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 207, 1 September 1932, Page 5

WHEAT IMPORTATIONS.

RELIEF TO POULTRYMEN.

«NOT KEARIiY SUFFICIENT."

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMENT

"Half a loaf is better than no bread," remarked Mr. Harvey Turner at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce this morning, in commenting on the Governments decision to import fowl wheat. The decision, he said, would afford a certain amount of relief, but it was not nearly sufficient. If the Government had allowed the wheat to come in free of duty it would have resulted in a saving of 25 per cent to the poultry keeper. Mr. Gainor Jackson: Does it not seem a further unwarrantable incursion into the field of the importer? He added that at the outside the price of 5/3 a bushel would result in a saving of only 3d a bushel. The Government was attempting to placate the North Island. He contended that merchants should be allowed to buy in the open market and import themselves. The chamber passed a resolution expressing .entire disapproval of the principle of the Government buying wheat, expressing appreciation of its recognition of the necessity for fairer treatment for the poultry producer, and respectfully urging that more liberal treatment be allowed. Import of Milling Wheat. In connection with the recent decision ;of the Government to import 850,000 bushels of wheat for. milling purposes, the • chamber has prepared a. manifesto for circulation to members of Parliament. Mr. D. Carter commented that it indicated that the chamber had no .confidence in the Government.""' A chorus of members: That is just the position. Mr. Carter: Personally I think we are treading on dangerous ground. Mr. Gainor Jackson: We claim the Government paid £10,000 too much. Their action should certainly be censured.