Page 6 Advertisements Column 1

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14428, 19 July 1907, Page 6

WHAT WOULD BE THE RESULT IP THE DUTY ON ELOUR OR WHEAT WERE REMOVED? WHY, DISASTER THROUGHOUT THE COLONY! NATURALLY up this way the seriousness would not be quite so apparent as in the South. Por instance, duty free Flour would mean the shutting down of all Flour Mills, thus throwing a large number out of employment. No wheat would bo grown, as tho New Zealand farmer couldn’t compete, and it does not pay to ship to London, being too far away, and having to reply on cheap casual freights; nor could we compete with, the world’s sweated surplus of flour. , How many southern Grain Merchants have come to grief during tho last twenty years by shipping wheat to London ? QUR COAL MINES would suffer considerably, as the Milling Industry is a fair consumer, without mentioning the large quantity used in threshing wheat. FARM LABOURERS, Croppers, Threshers; and Carriers, with numerous teams of horses, would have to go seeking, as well as those in the artificial manure line, and numerous other allied trades, etc. THE RAILWAY REVENUE would suffer to such an extent by shrinkages (which would be very pronounced in Canterbury and North Otago) that all classes of rates throughout the colony would have to be increased to fill the gap; and what about the railway employee—would ho not suffer? Tho London market is often mentioned for New Zealand wheat, but when New Zealand’s insignificance in that line is shown by other wheat-producing countries, the removal of our duty to permit sweated surplusages from those countries (carried by foreign ships, with foreign crews, at low wages, to the detriment of our New Zealand ships, with good wages) which prohibit our produce, etc., by excessive duties, would mean that we would be wiped out of existence by cheapness and adulteration; so it is obvious we must be protected and grow for local consumption to prevent a slump in tho labour market and increased railway rates throughout tho colony. India is a British Possession, with coloured labour, and is producing wheat and Flour at an alarming rate, and couia New Zealand compete with Coolie labour? Australian wheat-growing land is very cheap compared to New Zealand's, and the Australian railway tariff on grain is about 30 per cent lower than ours, so we must be careful. And Australia can always produce Flour from 20s to 25s per ton cheaper, owing to its wheat being cheaper, and by-products, Bran and Sharps, bringing considerably more, owing to the absence of green feed during the summer, autumn and winter. Australia had a serious drought in 1902. and its Customs Tariff was not altered for New Zealand’s benefit, as the Commonwealth of Australia wisely ruled that the drought was only of a temporary character, and they had to bear ono another’s burdens; though in New Zealand the cry is; Off with the duty, to crush tho New Zealand farmer and others, who have been heavy losers by tin recent New Zealand drought. Flour at present in' Sydney is £9, and the 4;b Loaf is 64d if booked, and Jd less for cash; so, what would bo tho advantage of removing the duties' but untold disaster? In New Zealand the miller is guided by the price he has to pay too farmer for wheat, like in any other part of the world, and naturally owing to the draught, and excitement in the world's markets, local prices havo advanced. After all. it is a question of supply and demand, and n we bought too high, and the farmers reaped the benefit, wou.d the public assist us uy sharing the loss? The following statement thews a few exporting countries that New Zealand would have to contend and compote with: WORLD’S EXPORTABLE 1004 AND 1005. SURPLUS, Russia Balkan Peninsula United States . Canada Argentine . India Chili, etc. . . Australia 20.000. Quarters. 5.000. „ 6.000 000 3.000. „ 12.000. „ 10.000 000 „ 2.000. 3,000.000 61,000,000 NEW ZEALAND’S EXPORTABLE SURPLUS was 500.000 quarters. And this year (1007) it is NIL, owing to drought. Tho United States, Canada, India, Argentine, and Australia are increasing yearly. THE SOUTHERN FLOUR TRUST (52 strong) has never had a chance of getting on its feet, owing to the vigour of “CHAMPION” MUSCLE RAISER—vido “ Otago Times,” “ Taranaki Herald,” “ Napier Daily Telegraph,” " Wairarapa Daily News,” “ Waihi Daily Telegraph,” “ Bay of Plenty Times.” We Aro in No Way Connected With Any MILLING TRUST, ASSOCIATION, or COMBINE. FREE IN EVERY RESPECT. P, Vliti’UE, Manager. NORTHERN ROLLER MILLING- COY., LIMITED. 2432