WHEAT POOL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11829, 10 January 1933, Page 4

WHEAT POOL

AUCKLAND OBJECTIONS

INIQUITOUS FOOD TAX”

“COLD-BLOODED D UMPIN G’ 1

(Press Association.!

AUCKLAND, Jan. 9, Strong objection to the proposed Wheat Purchase Board i» bo'ng expressed in Auckland by grain merchants.

‘.‘New Zealand always expresses pious horror at dumping”, said one, “but the new legislation provides lot the institution of dumping in its most cold-blooded form.’’ The compulsory pool, he saM, would result in the continuing of the fictitious; wheat prices and constituted in effect an iniquitous food tax, which would fall with the greatest severity on the large section of people who were desperately i'n need ol relief- " Presumably”, said another merchant, “the Wheat Board will export at a loss to England. In effect, it will dump low priced wheat on the English market. If this is not a violation of the spirit of the Ottawa agreements I am at a loss to describe- it. Another point of criticism was the action of the Government iu using an Ordar-in-Counffil, the opinion being expressed that if tlm proposals had been put before Parliament, pertinent questions wquld have been asked regarding what the Government proposed to do to protect the Dominion’s principal primary products—wool, wheat, and meat. A GISBORNE YIEWPOINT. “MEANS DEARER BREAD.” SCHEME CONDEMNED. Strong condemnation of the proposed wheat pool was voiced yesterday by a Gisborne merchant who said, inter alia, that the setting'up of the board on the terms outlined by the Minister for Industries and Commerce the Hon. it. Masters, would inevitably mean dearer bread.

“The whole scheme, as outlined, ’ he said, “is entirely wrong and it means the end of private trading in the grain. Goodness knows what will come next, perhaps it will be potatoes that must he pooled. The present price of wheat is about 4s 4 fl per bushel add now, when prices should be coming down, the Government wants to fix the price up to 4s 7d. The Minister says that the price paid the grower will be lower than that charged to the mill, so that it means the mill will be paying about os a bushel. Naturally it will follow that, with the increased cost of the grain, there will also be an increase in the bread prices. Times are bad enough without anything further added to the cost of

living. “The .Minister further says that the export value of wheat will be limited to 2s f>d per bushel. ’’ he continued. •‘Why do that? It simply means that we are selling it cheaply oxerseas and the overseas interests are getting the benefit of the low price, while we pay far more hefe"Another point,’’ lie added, "is that Hie board would stiiie private enterprise enlirciy. Merchant brokets, apparently. ai'c to be appointed as licensed, agents of the board am] it seems they aiy to hand!.,, all the business. Anyone else desiring to purchase wheat on his o"n account apparently will not be able to do .-u."