LIMIT OF PROTECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20958, 22 August 1931, Page 12

LIMIT OF PROTECTION.

WARNING TO WHEATGROWERS GENEROUS TREATMENT GIVEN. FRANK ADVICE BY MINISTER. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SFECIAt/ REPORTER.] "WELLINGTON, Friday. " I hope the wheat growers will take the advice that has been given to them and not open their mouths too wide, because if they make too much noise they will lose the protection they have." This warning was issued by the Hon. J. B, Donald, Postmaster-General, in his speech in the Financial debate in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Donald, who did not announce whether his voice carried the imprimtur of the Government, said there was a feeling among many members of Parliament that the Government had been giving insufficient attention to the wheat farmers of the South Island. " When we consider that those who grow wheat in this country are getting three times the price received by their friends in Australia, it cannot be said that they are getting unfair treatment," said the Minister. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Independent —Gisborne) : They are getting too good a treatment. Mr. Donald: 1 suggest that those who are trying to force the Government's hand for higher protection had better take care, because the public will not stand too much. (Hear, hear.) It is more than likely that before long, if the present agitation continues, we will find the protection wiped off altogether. We must have wheat, which is a staple article of diet, and we must have offal manufactured in this country, and the millers and also the farmers should be protected, but it is absolutely wrong that they should be protected above a reasonable limit. The Government lias been very generous to farmei'3 and millers in the proposals it has brought down. Mr. J. A. Macpherson (Government — Oamaru): Good to the bakers. Mr. Donald added there was no reason why the wheat farmer should have his land kept at £2O an acre while other farmers saw their equity dwindling away to nothing. This was particularly so with the sheep farmer, and, to a less extent, with the dairy fanner. A Reform Interjector: More so. Mr. Donald: The wheat farmers have been most fortunate and it would be advisable for them, along with the millers, to realise the favourable position in which they find themselves. " I regret it is not possible at present for the poultry farmers of the North Island to get some, rebate, and I hope it will soon become possible for fowl wheat to be imported into the North Island on a lower rate of duty. The farmers there are entitled to a rebate, because the poultry farmers of the South Island have an advantage of a shilling a bushel on the price of fowl wheat. I sincerely hope the growers will realise the seriousness of the position," concluded Mr. Donald. AGREEMENT ON PRICES. GROWERS AND MILLERS. SCHEME FOR STABILISATION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHUKCH. Friday. An important soheme for the stabilisation of wheat prices for next season, which has been drawn up by the Now Zealand Wheatgrowers' Co-operative Association aijd representatives of all flour millers in the Dominion, was outlined by Mr. W. W. Mulholland, chairman of directors of the association, to a meeting of wheatgrowers at Culverdon and Omihi yesterday. Mr. Mulholland stated that an agreement had been cmtered into with millers' representatives under which the millers would agree to buy wheat at a price to be fixed by a certain definite basis of calculation and to deduct a levy which would be paid into an equalisation fund to be available for dealing with any wheat in excess of requirements which could not be sold during the season. " The millers," he added, " have also agreed to pay into the fund any amount they receive for bran and pollard in excess of, say, £4 10s a ton, while the growers on their part will aprree to make up out of the levy any difference there may be if the price of bran and pollard falls below £4 10s a ton. The scheme will be operated by a board composed of an equal number of growers and millers, neither side having a majority. In the event of any differences of opinion an agreement will have to be reached by negotiation."