AUSTRALIA FLOUR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 December 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIA FLOUR

iioi NO EMBARGO SAYS MINISTER. ASHBURTON, Saturday. Arising out of tin, conference ot wheat growers held in Ashburton on December 2, a deputation consisting of representatives from North, mid and South Canterbury districts waited on the Minister of Agriculture. Hon. O. J. Hawken, at Ashbimon i his afternoon, asking that an embargo be placed on Australian flour or in the alternative, that an increase of 25/- per ton be made in duty.

•'The conference between the Minister and deputation was held in committee, but later the Minister made u statement to press representatives itgarding the first part of the resolution passed by the Farmers’ Conference, that there should be an em bargo on flour. “I stated distinctly that the Government could not undertake to put an embargo on Australian flour,” stated the Minister ‘Tt is the only protection which the consumer in New Zealand has in regard to the price of bread. Flour is soli in New Zealand at practically one price and the competition of Austral:an Hour regulates that price. It vv'ild meat if we put an embargo on flour; that the Government would have to regulate the price at which flfmr would be sold in New Zealand and it has been the settled policy of the,Government to rely on duties rather than undertake to regulate the price s at which flour and bread should be sold.”

It of erring to the second part of the resolution that there shored bo a further duty of 25/- per ton on flour, 1m pointed out that only Parliament could impose such a duty. If. however, th“ interests concerned ■ could prove -that a dumping duty on Aushnlian flour could be justified on the circumstances governing tbe sales or Austral inn flour for local use and for ■ xport, then he bad no doubt that the Minister of Customs would take 'be mailer lulu consideration.