WHEAT DUTIES

Northern Advocate, 18 April 1933, Page 6

WHEAT DUTIES

LABOUR. SUPPORT. STATE FLOUR MILLS. (Special to “Northern Advocate/’) AUCKLAND, Tins Day. The New Zealand Conference of the Labour Party last evening, supported a policy of wheat duties. A report on the wheat and Hour industries submitted by a special committee stated that “guaranteed prices would provide' the solution of the wheat problem for the farmer, award' rates' of wages would protect the workers, and strict administration .of the regulations which could be provided under the Board of Trade Act would be a substantia], ' guarantee against the exploitation- of the consumer/ 7 .

The report, which was adopted, added: “In view of the apparent monopoly of wheat and wheat products by milling and distributing agents, which results in unduly high prices to the consumer, the committee recommends: (I) That the Department of Industries and Commerce be authorised to exercise the powers conferred by the Board of Trade Act so as to ensure complete control of production and importation of wheat and wheat, products, and the control of process from the farm and factory to the consumer; (2) that, subject to the payment of award rates of wages in the wheat and milling industries, adequate tariff rates or subsidies on wheat be supported until complete control of the industries and prices is arranged under the Board of Trade Act; (3) the establishment of State flour mills.