WHEAT-GROWING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 78, 27 December 1926, Page 12

WHEAT-GROWING

DESIRABLE, BUT NOT ESSENTIAL Bi Tedecraph.—Press association. • Ashburton, December 24. A reply given by the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. O J. Hawken) to a deputation of wheat growers that waited ou him at Ashburton last Saturday and asked for an embargo on imported flour, or, as an alternative, an increase of 255. a ton in the duty, was discussed by the Mid-Canterbury Executive of the Farmers' Union this afternoon. The president (Mr. J. Carr) said the deputation had got two very definite statements from the Minister. Asked it he considered wheat growing an essem tiai industry, the reply had been "No. Mr. Hawken, however, had also said that Cabinet and the Government thought it very desirable that the country should grow sufficient wheat for its own needs. Wheat growers were not to get away with the idea that they were essential, as wheat could be imported, lhe deputation had pointed out to the Minister that while the cost of production was not decreasing there was a tendency for the world’s parity to decrease. Iho P rc " sident said it seemed strange that they should have a Government supposed to protect farmers* interests, yet m this matter when they were asked to prove that dumping of hour was going on they were told the Customs figures were, confidential, and could not be obtained. “How are we going to prove it? asked the president. Mr. Leadley said the deputation was not asking for a price that would bo an exploitation of the public. All the wheat growers wanted was a fair price. Mi. Hawken had said that if the dumping duty did go on wheat would be woitli fis 4d a bushel at portsMr. W. T. Lili said it seemed to him the Government did not “care a rap. It was resolved: "That the Government be advised that it is the opinion of the executive that the onuß. of. F™'ing that dumping is going on is on the Government, and not on the farmers since the Government, with its varwu Departments, is in a 1 ® information more readily and more ac curaiely than any farming organisation can do.” .