THE WHEAT DUTIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20866, 7 May 1931, Page 12

THE WHEAT DUTIES.

Sir,—l consider the duty on wheat is one of the most important questions of the day. Members of Parliament discussed it for one day,-but did nothing. They did not seem to realise the great possibilities of good which would follow the removal of wheat and flour duties.' Members of Parliament, seemed to- connect only wheat and bread, whereas flour enters into the every-day life of. the public in scores of different ways; in fact, half of our food consists of flour, or the products of wheat. Now, what a difference it would make to the cost of living if a hundred of flour could .be bought for 10s. quite a reasonable price. Why should a million and a-half of people lie called upon to pay twice'as much as,Js necessary for one of the most important things in life just to keep a few wheatgrowers in luxury ? The granaries of tho world are overflowing with wheat in. almost every country. Why, then, should not the poor people of New Zealand gc-t the advantage of these abundant harvests ? With the duty removed from wheat and flour, bread, "the chief item of food of the poor, could be sold a little more than half its present price. - Then other things would be producedmore cheaply if wheat were cheap. Eggs could be produced for 9d per dozen, and bacon would be than Is 6d per lb.' I think the public should demand that Something be done in this matter with' out. delay. A. A. James. ~