PRICE OF WHEAT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 81, 13 March 1924, Page 2

PRICE OF WHEAT.

GOVERNMENT AND GROWERS.

Wellington, Mar. 12

Interviewed to-day in regard to the subject of wheat-growing, particularly concerning a statement made by Mr G. W. Leadley (Ashburton), that the Government had evaded the rospousi bilily of putting forward any definite proposal, the Minister of Agriculture (the Hou. W. Nosworthy) stated that he failed to understand how anyone could regard the proposals made by the Government as in any way' indefinite. “Surely,” he sard, “the decision thta the Government will not after the current season fix or guarantee lhe price of wheat and *,hut the embargo on importations Wxli op l/icd <»l "February 28 next is definite enough. It simply means thftt for the future the crops of the wheatgrower will, have the protection afforded by the Customs auty, approximately Is oil per bushel, plus the natural advantage of local over imported wheat in the way of freight, handling charges, etc. 4 ‘ I'here is no thought of sheltering behind Parliament, as Mi* Leadley alleges. The Government has given the decision, which the wheatgrowers’ conference asked. should be furnished within 14 days, and is quite prepared to take the responsibility for that decision. The only point which it is necessary or desirable to consult Parliament on is in regard to raising the duty on flour to bring it into line with that Ou wheats it is true, as Air Leadley says, that the Government has power to alter the tariff without reference to Parliament, but this is a power which would be exercised oniy in a grave emergency. .Such, circumstances do not at present exist. The object of the proposed increased duty on flour will be to make it more payable to import wheat. This will give employment for the flour mills of the Dominion, and will provide us with bran and pollard, which we would have difficulty in procuring jieparatcly. ‘' A point which seems to be generally overloqked is that in the 1921 tanlf revision the Government increased the tariff on wheat from 9d per eefltal to 2s per cental, ffuur from ..Is to 2s 6d per cental. Farmers, therc- [ fore, now enjoy much greater protection than they had before the days ot , price-fixing.

“As regards Air Leadley’s statement that the Government could, for the asking, have had a guarantee that a sufficient area of wheat would be grown, I put this very point to the conference, but failed to elicit a reply. It is very interesting to know that an authority such us Mr Leadley anticipates that Australian, wheat will be selling m the Dominion at 8s before long. If Mr Leadley’s anticipation is realised, New Zealand growers will be in a more advantageous position, than any reasonabe guarantee could place them in. It was pointed out to the conference, however, that Australia.! wheat can be landed at main ports, duty paid, for 6s lid. Mr Leadley’s estimate, therefore, appears to be over-sanguine. ’ ’