WHEAT DUTIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 72, 24 February 1931, Page 4

WHEAT DUTIES

Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb 28.. Complaint is made on behalf of grain merchants that the telegraphed summary of the statement by the Prime Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes, on wheat duties has had the effect of unsettling the wheat market because of an omission of something Mr Forbes said. The message did not state cleaiiy that Mr Forbes had indicated that his references to a possible revision o wheat duties did not apply to this season’s wheat, but might possibly apply to wheat harvested next year.

An intimation that he would make a full statement regarding the sliding scale of duties on wheat anrl flour dining the short session of Parliament next months was given by the Prime Minister in an interview. “No doubt, said Mr Forbes, “with the general fall in the prices of commodities there will have to be some reductions not only in the prices of wheat, but also in the milling and baking industry as well. He had already set in train an investigation of the wheat and flour position by the Department of Industries and Commerce and the Customs Department, and lie hoped shortly to have the whole of the facts before him.