DEAR WHEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20623, 23 July 1930, Page 16

DEAR WHEAT.

Sir, —Mr. J. Heaton-Batker wishes.-"to. know just what benefit would be gained., in particular to the Auckland Province,;;* if New Zealand sent two and a-haif millions of money annually to Australia in order to purchase wheat. There are, I understand, 6703 wheat-growers in New Zealand at the present time, and, although : Sir. Burnett" practically suggested in tfift House a few days; ago that if the wheat duty was taken oft these growers would walk off their land and join the ranks of the unemployed in the citie3, I would like to suggest that if they were unable to profitably grow wheat they would usa -j their land to produce something else, thfi j total value of which produce would pr&h," ably be aa high o:r higher than the valee of the wheat, and the number-of bandrV employed would probably be just ss high.,,..; As a result of being able to buy cheaper/? food, poultry farms would spring up. alii"., over the country and, in the Auckland ; Province in particular, absorbing xr,any of tho present, unemployed and building. up another primary industry-' . I under- ; stand England imported eggs to the ralua of £12.000.000 last .year, New _ Zealand's share of . which -was £1100! Surely our increased export of eggs to England alcrns should more than balance the amount wu would have to pay to other countries fo; wheat, and this, together with other goodv produced on the " one-time " wheat land, should show a very substantial cre<tic balance to New Zealand. In addition, wo would secure cheaper bread, cheaper eggs and cheaper poultry' for our Sunday dinner. Is creased Production.