WHEAT PRICES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18603, 30 January 1926, Page 12

WHEAT PRICES.

northern viewpoint ATTACK ON GROWERS. A deputation to government (SPECIAL TO "THE FKESS."-) AUCKLAND, January 29. Since the Government announced its intention of rescinding its decision to control the 1925-26 wheat crop, much speculation has been abroad as to the probable effect upon the price of flour and bread. From statements made in the trade yesterday it appears that there is no ground for supposing that an increase will take effect. Little fluctuation, if any, is anticipated, at least until the middle of the year, when it may be expected that Parliament ■will reconsider the question of the duty on flour.

It is authoritatively stated that only minor alters jns in current prices need be expected while the existing duties remain unchanged. "With the conditions of a free market, the piesent prices, indeed, might tend toward a lower level, iii sympathy with the prevailing world parity. A leading Auckland miller expressed strong views as to the advisability or removing the present duty on imported wheat. The Canterbury farmer, he said, wanted a free market to sell his wheat at the highest price, but at the same time wanted the Government protection of Is 3d a bushel to continue, in' order to exploit his full freedom. The southern wheat crop this year was estimated to yield 4.000,000 bushels, and practicallv no wheat was grown in the North Island, but the Dominion required 8,000,000 bushels for its normal requirements, and would consequently have to import 4,000,000 bushels. The New Zealand buyer would pay Is 3d in duty 011 every bushel imported. It would therefore be seen that the Canterbury farmer would get the full benefit of the duty, because the value of his wheat would be increased to that extent. Australian Parity. He cited the fact that the price of Australian wheat was (is /id a bushel in Australia. To land it in Auckland cost Is in freight, and Is 3d in duty, making the cost 8s &d in North Island ports. To bring Canterbury wheat to Auckland cost, say, Jd a bushel, so that the Canterbury farmer could get 8s a bushel for his wheat, and still sell it in Auckland at the price of Australian. The point was that the grower in Canterbury had added Is 3d to the price of his wheat, and this amount on 4,000,000 bushels worked out at £250,000, which was paid by the general public, including North Island farmers and poultry" farmers generally. "If the dutv 011 Australian wheat were suspended," continued the authority, "the cost of importation could be 6s" 6d, plus Is freight,, making the cost 7s 6d c.i.f. at the North Island ports. That would be the basis on which the poultry farmer would buy his supplies. It is estimated that nearly 1,500,000 bushels are required for poultry purposes every, year, so many thousands of poultry farmers contribute £93,750 as an unnecessary tax on their industry in order to gratify the relatively smaller number . of wheatgrowers in Canterbury. On a rough calculation three-fifths of poultry production is located in the North Island, which means that the north's share of the Canterbury farmers' tax 011 wheat alone is £56,250." Dairy and Poultry Farmers. Dairy and poultry farmers, he added, jointly contributed further through their' purchase of 60,000 tons of bran and' pollard yearly. According to the tariff duty on wheat offal was £2 10s a ton, but last year the Government temporarily reduced the duty to £1 a ton. Assuming the Government decides to. charge tlie lower amount, th© New Zealand farmers would contribute a further £60,000 in the way of duty, as whatever was manufactured in New Zealand would be valued 011 the imported basis. "Another serious aspect," he continued, "is the danger of supplies running short. Australia lias a specially low export price for flour —much lower than th© domestic price—because of the' high prices usually obtained in Australia for bran and pollard. For each ton of Australian flour imported our fahners los© the use of 8001b of offal, hence the farmers who use _bran and pollard are going to pay a higher price, and be subject to their essential supplies being curtailed. "The only course open to the Government in the interest of the publio as a whole is" to suspend immediately the duty on wheat, and thus avoid this unnecessary tax of £250,000. which all goes into the pocket of the Canterbury wheat-grower."

I A Concerted Attack. The demand for the removal of the duty on wheat is supported by the poultrymen, and it is evident that a serious endeavour is to" be made to per- | suade the Government to take action in this direction. Advice was received in Auckland yesterday that _ arrangements had been made in Wellington for ' a deputation comprising millers, poultrymen, and dairy farmers, from all parts of ftew Zealand to wait upon the Prime Minister on Tuesday morning with a view to placing their views before him. It is stated ±hat one of the proposals to be urged upon the Prime Minister is the appointment of an independent commission, empowered to take evidence on the question of wheat supply, and wheat duties; including the evidence of consumers. LEASE OF BIG RUN. 47,550 ACRES AUCTION. Mr Roland Sutherland, of Sockburn, purchased the lease of the pastoral run, part of Glynn-Wye, in the Amuri County, on Thursday, at a public auction held in the Lands Department. The run consists of 47,0j0 acres, situated 48 miles from Culverden railway station. \bout 24,000 acres aro in tussock and other liative grasses, while the balance is in bush or is barren. - The place was disposed of at the upset annual rental o£ £386, loaded with £:V_\,o improvements. FEILDING STOCK SALE. (PHESS /.SSOCIATIOH TELEGRAM.) FEILDING, January 29. At the Feilding stock sale to-day there was a full yarding o£ all classes of sheep. Buyers were keen after any good lambs suitable for rape, and a good sale resulted. Fat lambs realised 255, two-tooth 26s 9d to 29s 4d. wethers 24s to 40s, ewes 16s to 225. Stores: Woolly rape lambs 17s 2d to 19s, black-faced lambs 14s 4d to 14s Bd, white-faced wether lambs 14s Sd to 16s Id, four and five-year ewes 18s 4d to 20s 6d, rape lambs (shorn) "15s 6d to 19s 2d, woolly wether lambs 14s 6d to 13s 7d, store ewes 10s 6d to 14s 6d, two-tooth wethers 21s 5d to 255, mixed sex lambs 13s to 15s 6d, small lambs 9s 7d to 12s 6d, four and six-tooths and four-year ewes passed at 20s 6d, ewe lambs 14s Id to 14s 6d, woolly owes 23s fid. There was a good yarding of cattle of all classes. Fat cattle showed an improvement on last »ale. Store bullocks were not wanted. Fat and forward cows sold -well. Store cows realised 35s to £2 15s, young fat and forward cows £3 to £4 17s 6d, fat heifers £5 15s to £6, good fat cows £s' 6s to £6 sb, medium fat cows £3 19s to £4 16s, potter bulls £3 15s to £5 IQs.