IMPORTATION OF FOWL WHEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 12

IMPORTATION OF FOWL WHEAT

Sir, —The Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Industries and Commerce, again exemplifies the business ability of the present Government by offering a sop. to the importers in the form of allowing imported wheat from Australia. Pressure from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce has been too strong, even for a Coalition Ministef. Mr. Masters is careful to state that his department desires merchants and wheatgrowers' advice, but the poultry farmer who is to pay for this wheat is not recognised. Is this Government for all ? The poultry farmers and pig breeders, etc., can only come to one conclusion, i.e., that the present Government is out to protect vested,interests. Poultry keepers ask that the Minister give to the public the cost of this purchase of wheat. Recently milling wheat was imported at a cost of 3s 4d per bushel. Freight charges amount to 83d per bushel; making a landed cost of 4s 2d. Poult'rymen do not require milling quality. Splendid wheat can be purchased for less than milling price. I have been quoted 5s 9£d N.O.T.X.S. for the wheat in discussion. The prico represents a about 2d to the consumer—a magnificent effort on the part of the Government to assist the poultry and pig industries. The Government is allowing merchants 5 per cent and handling charges. Will the Minister explain why poultrvmen should have a special tax to pay through the Government confiscating the difference between cost and selling charges? Had the Minister allowed importation a little srtoner he could have purchased as low as 2s 7d per bushel. I was personally quoted this price in Sydney. The basis of the whole of the poultry industry is to be able to purchase feed at a reasonable price. Poultry producers were given protection from Chinese egg pulp on the written guarantee to supply sufficient for the Dominions requirements. We have fulfilled this undertaking, and in the flush surplus supply are available for export. The-Government will not heed advice from the leaders.W the poultry industry, and to-day eggs are worth 8d to 9d per dozen, positively 4U per cent below cost of production, and poultrvmen are just about bankrupt. Australia has already exported 556,300 dozen eggs to England." Last year the Commonwealth exported 9,740,790 dozen. This season —careful estimates have been compiled—approximately half a million cases, each 30 dozen, will be sent to England. When one calculates 500,000 half-crowns 011 their smallest pack of is receiving a substantial preference conceded at Ottawa. New Zealand is setter suited, to poultry farming than A tralia, and if we were given an opportunity to purchase feed at price, thousands of small holders •v----have a job worth while to the Dominion. Instead, the Government has P'° le " - the wheatgrower to an extent unreasonable, unbusinesslike and a to the Dominion's interests. " R. S. HIGGINBOTHAM' -