NEW SEASON'S WHEAT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18264, 24 December 1924, Page 10

NEW SEASON'S WHEAT.

NO FIXATION OF PRICE. DUTIES ON IMPORTED WHEAT AND FLOUR. (press association telegram.) ASRBUUTON. December 23. The Minister of Agriculture met. a deputation representing tho executives of the Farmers' Unions in wheatgrowing districts today. The deputation took tho form of a round-the-tablo conference, at which the delegates expressed tho view that farmers should receive the utmost possible encouragement to l romain in tho industry in order that New Zealand should not become entirely dependent upon out&ide sources for supplies of such essential commodities as bread and wheat. A request was also made that the on Australian flour should be continued until September nest in order that the local product could be used up by millers boforc Australian flour was marketed in New Zealand. The Minister recalled the promises he made the wheat conference in March last that after February i'Sth next Government control would cease, that the embargo on importation would be lifted, and duties of Is 3d per bushel on wheat and £3 per ton on flour would be imposed, also that, if circumstances warranted it, a dumping duty on imported flour would be imposed. The Government, said the Minister, had no intention of revoking its announced decision on any of these points. AH the necessary arrangements for the duties mentioned to become applicable from March Ist had been made. The relinquishment of Government control of prices was a matter of settled policy, therefore it was quite useless to ask for a continuance of the embargo on the importation of Australian wheat and flour. The Minister pointed out that on present prospects farmers should receive considerably more than Cs per bushel asked by them on February last. He considered that for the present season, at any rate, wheat-growing would be remunerative.