THE WHEAT QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19027, 26 May 1925, Page 10

THE WHEAT QUESTION.

ATTITUDE OF THE GROWERS. " TINKERING WITH TARIFF." Keferonee to the wheat question is made by the president of the Auckland J 1 armers Union, Air. A. 15. Harding, in the annual report which will be presented at the opening of the twenty-fifth annual provincial conference in Auckland this morning. * "The wheat question still continues to occupy the minds of our fellow unionists in the South Island," says Mr. Harding. "I have never been able to understand the attitude some of them have taken up on this matter. All the tinkering with the tariff and embargo, first on one thing and then on another, has done good to j;o one, and on the other hand has brought injury and ruin to t lie poultry arid pig breeders, as well as great loss to many dairy farmers who require bran for their cattle. The last arrangement raising pollard and bran £2 10s each so that flour may be. reduced £1 seems to me to aim a fatal blow at our producers for the benefit of the town dweller.

"Our pork industry is growing by leaps, "and bounds, and vet at the time of year wlien it is most, required, pollard is to be raised to an absurd price. If it, is necessary to grow wheat, in New Zealand, why not give a bounty on a sliding scale so that the growers would get a fair "return for their labour; but at the same time allow free import of wheat, bran and pollard ? This, T am sure, would be of tremendous benefit to the country as a whole, while the wheat growers would have their industry preserved with the best possible heart to the, general community. Although not seeing eye to eye. with our Southern members, let tin in rest assured that their Northern colleagues are. ready and willing to help them in any fair and reasonable way. But we. must put our side of the question forward, as some of their proposals have had disastrous effect. And we feel assured they do not want to succeed by what brings disaster to others." \