STOCK FOOD DUTIES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1930, Page 6

STOCK FOOD DUTIES

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE

PIG BREEDERS' REQUEST

An opportunity for another debate on wheat duties was given to the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon when tho Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee referred the petition from tho Pig. Breeders' Association, asking for the removal of import duties on eci-cal aud vegetable stock foods, to the Government for favourable consideration. The Canterbury and Otago members considered that if the recommendation was given effect to it would bo a blow at. the wheat-growing industry, and Mr. D. Jones (Reform, MidCanterbury) moved an amendment that tho petition bo referred back' to tho Committee for further consideration.

Mr. J. A. Macpherson (United, Oaniaru) said that there were over £3,000,000 involved in the wheat industry, which employed a large number of men. He maintained that barley was the best grain constituent for pig feed, and' this could be imported duty free.

Mr. W. J. Poison (Independent, Stratford) maintained that unless the duties were removed from stock foods the pig industry could not be developed. Mr. Jones, who moved the amendment, said that there was an abundance of stock foods 6n the free list already, and, furthermore, if the wheat.growers went out, it would be-practic-.ally impossible to import bran and pollard..

The Rev.- C. Carr (Labour, Tiinaru) said that he was opposed to the importation of anything that could be produced within the Dominion. Captain H. M. Rushworth (Country Party, Bay of Islands): "At' any price?"

Mr. Carr: "At a reasonable price." He said that cheap food for stock would mean starvation for the people. Mr. G. C. Black (United, Motueka) quoted the report of the Unemployment Commission, which had pointed to the great possibilities of the pig industry, and which hac[ stated that it was essential that the duties should be removed.

The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. 33. Holland) said that environmental prejudices always crept into discussions of this, nature, but he asked them to take a broad viewpoint and consider the effects on the industries of the Dominion as a whole. The problem was to organise the primary industries so that there would be the greatest profit to the producers and the least, cost to tha^nsumers. The report was "talked out."