WHEAT DUTIES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 212, 21 August 1931, Page 11

WHEAT DUTIES

SLIDING SCALE ADVOCATED MANUFACTURERS’ DISCUSSION. MOTION NOT PUT TO VOTE. Wellington, Aug. 20. When a motion was submitted to the New Zealand Manufacturers’ conference to-night supporting a sliding scale of wheat duties, it was favour, ably discussed by some of the delegates. It was then pointed out that no motion could be submitted unless by unanimous consent, as due notice had not been given. Prior to the conference the president Mr G. Finn, of Auckland, agreed that such was the case and, while not putting the motion, said that, had it been in order, it would have been carried by a large majority of delegates. The motion, submitted by Mr 1. Woolf, of Canterbury, was: “That this conference supports a sliding scale of wheat duties, and considers that the wheat industry should receive such protection as is necessary to maintain the welfare of an essential industry, vital to the welfare of the Dominion. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister and to the associated press of New Zealand.”

Mr Woolf read a lengthy extract from evidence given before the wheat commission, showing the importance of the industry to Canterbury and Otago and the amount of labour engaged by the industry. He realised there wag some opposition from the poultry industry, but there were over 6000 wheatgrowers while there were only about 130 individuals affected who made a living entirely by poultry farming. CANTERBURY’S POSITION. If the wheat industry was not carried on it would mean ruin to Canterbury and Otago for some years to come He appealed to delegates to look at the matter from a national aspect. If they could not help the vmeat growers, then they should let all foreign wheat r"me in and Russian butter also. Through Russian dumping, wheat was ab the lowest (Price for 150 years Mr F. L. Hetchinson (Christchurch' oeeonded the motion, saying that en economist bad worked out what was gained by having a cheap loaf and found that the gain to the Dominion was about a quarter of a million- He then worked out the other side and found that the loss to the Dominion by allowing cheap stuff to come in was half a million. They should maintain wheat growing as a matter of principle. The president. Mr J. Finn, of Auckland. agreed that to take eway the duty would endanger the wheat industry of the country. Many in the North Island were opposed to the wheat duty, but he was not. He knew that the price had been on the high side, hut that had now been rectified Wheat growing was essentia? to Canterbury, for no other crop could take its place, and it was a crop which enabled the farmer to use his time throughout the year. Could they imagine what it would moan to the manufacturers of the Dominion if the duties were removed? NOT PREPARED TO VOTE. Mr S. Takle (Auckland): This motion has been sprung on the conference and I am not prepared to vote on it. The secretary, Mr J. Findlay, of Auckland, drew attention to the rules, which provide that no question shall be decided or voted upon unless communicated as a remit to all associations one month before the conference. Questions not covered by romite may be discussed, but no resolution put except with the unanimous consent of all the affiliated associations, whether represented at the conference or not. Mr Woolf: We should show the farmers of New Zealand that we are sincere in our goodwill towards any New Zealand industry. Mr. Campbell (Wellington' moved that a vote be taken, suggesting that Mr Tackle should refrain from voting. Mr Findlay said the Government had already reached a decision in the matter, and there was no need for the federation to pass a remit. Further, they had no instructions from the Auckland branch .and could not commit that association. Mr Woolf suggested that the motion bo put and a majority vote taken, any objection being noted. The president rated that the motion could not be put, but, had it been sent forward in time as a remit, he thought it would have been carried by an overwhelming majority.