WHEAT IMPORTATIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1077, 25 July 1924, Page 5

WHEAT IMPORTATIONS.

QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 24. Replying in the House of Representatives to-day to Mr McPherson, who asked what importations of wheat were being made to meet the present shortage, and what steps were being taken to encour-" age additional sowing in tho spring, the Hon. W. XOs wort hv said that the wheat importation embargo ceased on February 28th, when the duty on wheat, approximately Is 2d per bushel, would be retained. It was proposed, subject to Parliamentary approval, to increase the duty on flour from £2 10s to £3 per ton. Probably the shortage would be met by importation. Mr Nosworthy added that prices during the last month or so had improved and this would encourage the sowing of a great area in the spring. He hoped that farmers would provide ample wheat for local needs, but if they failed to do so it was the duty of the Government to import sufficient .to make up the shortage.

OPINION OF A FARMER. WELLINGTON, July 24. Speaking at tho annual meeting of the Farmers’ Union to-day, Mr G. W. Leadley, who has fot- many years been prominently connected with tne wheat growing industry, said that the existing customs tariff was subject to the will of the Minister and the way the tariff hnd been chopped and hacked about had been disastrous. Owing to a variety of causes the Dominion was not producing sufficient wheat to meet the requirements of the country. In the Financial Statement just delivered the Prime Minister stated that the Government had had to pay £1,125,000 for wheat imported from Australia. That money could have been saved if encouragement had been given to the wheatgrowers. The growers had become bo disgusted with the position that he heard growers say they would not now grow wheat even at 10s per bushel. Mr Leadley concluded:. “We ought to grow our own wheat; we should not send abroad for foodstuffs which we could well grow ourselves.”