WHEAT POOL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11830, 11 January 1933, Page 4

WHEAT POOL

COLD-BLOODED D rtf PING

GOVERN.Vi.ENT CRITICL3ED

AUCKLAND. -Jan. 0

Definite hostility to the Government's decision to establish a WheatPurchase Board la operate a 5 a com. pnlscry pool for the marketing of the Dominion’s wheat, was expressed by prominent grain merchants in Auckland to-day. Thev accused the Government- oi granting unreasonable protection to a comparatively small section of the producing community at- the expense of all other sections. Ix was even stated that ef similar treatment were not extended to dairying ;snd grazing industries a political crisis might be precipitated. For some years now the South Island wheatgrower lias been the spoilt child of the Government, far more so than the dairy tanner -ov the North, said a leading city grain merchant. The position now is coming io be much more serious than it was in 19*29, when 200.000 bushels of New Zealand wheat were exported to England at a dead loss to bolster up the price on the domestic market. New Zealand always expresses pious horror of dump mg/‘but the new legislation provides for .the institution of dumping in its most cold-blooded form.

Grain merchants generally criticise the export proposals as something which may easily damage New Zealand’s good name abroad. Under the new regulations the M heat- Board has a monopoly for the export oi wheat, and the 'Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. It. Masters has stated that the object- of the compulsory pool ij to provide growers with a home consumption value of approximately 4s 3d to 4;§ 6d a bushel, and an export, value- of probably not more than 2s 6ri a bushel. It is not a very flattering comment nrv on the commercial morality oi the Government, -said one commentator, thajt it should arrange by legislation to export produce at a considerable loss to bolster up and stabilise prices ior the balance of the industry “Presumably the Wheat Board will export at a loss to England”, said one merchant. “In effect it wiR dump low-priced wheat on the English mar. ket-. If this was not a- violation of the spirit of tho Ottawa Conference, I am a-fl a loss to describe it.” Mr Harvey Turner, of Turners and Growers, Limited, who have interests in tho wheat trade , said that he would prefer not to make any detailed comment on the position until ho had studied the new legislation in full Tho matter, would probably bo discussed by tho Auckland Chamber of Commerco in tho coming week. “One point that strikes mo very forcibly ha s reference to the provision of the exporting of surplus wheat at a loss”, Mr Turner said. “The Government is apparently satisfied that the whole of the wheat crop cannot bo sold at artificial prices. It would only bo reasonable to sell the surplus milling wheat to tho poultry farmers at a low price. High-grade fowl wheat is 'an essential if we ate to develop the poultry industry in New Zealand in Hie manner in which it should be developed.”