WHEAT DUTIES

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 28 August 1929, Page 9

WHEAT DUTIES

FARMERS’ POINT OF VIEW. THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. EVIDENCE! AT INQUIRY. (By Telegraph -Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. The second public sitting of the select committee of til© House of Representatives, which is considering the question of wheat duties, wais held to-day. Mr Ferguson, representing the South Auckland Dairy Association, said that dairy farmers felt that with a high tariff on pig food, it was impossible to raise the right class ,of pig for the export trade. They would prefer the duty to be taken off pig food than to receive a bo hns of half-penny on the export trade. There was a feeling that there was no -benefit, to the farmer from the bonus. Further evidence was. given by the secretary of the -Department of industries and Commerce, Mr Collins, who ( said that the object of the tariff and sliding scale was to make New Zealand entirely independent, if possible. If the department were asked to investigate and report on the economic price of bread in order to give a reasonable price, and to provide for overhead charges, they would fix the price at one shilling per 41b loaf. To the chairman, Mr Collins said that were it not for the duties, wheat would be much Cheaper. Mr Fawcett, of the Department of Agriculture, speaking in regard to the poultry industry, said that there was an over production of eggs in the Dominion. At present the industry was on the downward swing, and this would probably bring about a rise in the price in the next few; year®. Some of the big disadvantages under winch the poultry-tanner was working was that there was no organisation through which lie could buy his wheat advantageously.

Witness .said that he saw no prospect of an export market for New Zealand eggs. The cominnitt.ee adjourned till next Wednesday.