WHEAT POSITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19239, 1 August 1924, Page 6

WHEAT POSITION.

INTERVIEW WITH MR NOSWORTHY. PRICES AN INCENTIVE TO GROWERS. (Fhom Ouh Own Cohhespondent.) WELLINGTON, July 31. When interviewed this afternoon regarding the press comment on hia recent statement in the House that the Government proposed to ask Parliament to alter the flour duty from £2 Ids to £3 a ton, the Hon. Mr N'obwortliy (Minister of Agriculture) reiterated his statement that the increase in flour duty would be sought for the reason that the Government desired to place this duty on a parity with wheat, approodmatoly ijs 3d per bushel, and above all to give every possible encouragement to the farmers to grow wheat in sufficient quantities to make New Zealand independent of outside supplies. It had teen shown, stated the Minister, that owing to the shortage of wheat from last harvest the Government had to provide on the current year’s Estimates the huge sum of £1,125,000 for wheat purchases overseas. money which, in the Minister’s view, it would he bettor in the national interests to expend in the dominion, Mr Nosworthy pointed out that from the year 1886 the duty on wheat was 9d per cental and flour Is per cental, and it remained at these rates with but one change in 1907, when foreign flour was called upon to pay an additional 22-5 d per cental. In the tariff legislation of 1921 the present wheat and flour duties were imposed and gave effect to a promise he had made to farmers to afford greater protection to the wheat growing industry, and to place New Zealand on on equal footing with the duties ruling in the Common' wealth of Australia. In deciding early this year to control flour and bread prices provided the farmers and millers agreed upon wheat prices the Government, in Mr Nosworthy’s opinion, acted in the best interests of the people of the dominion. He draw attention to the fact that during the current month there had been dramatic increases in the world’s prices for wheat and flour, and recent cablegrams showed that wlieat could noli be purchased and landed in New Zealand after paying the necessary handling and shipping charges and duty under 8a 3d per bushel, as against the current price of 5s 9d per bushel at main ports in the South Island. Synchronously the price of flour had been increased in uncontrolled markets, and yesterday’s quotations from London showed that flour was being sold for £l7 per ton, and that in the commonwealth recent advices indicated that during- the past few months flour had increased from £lO to £ls per ton. In the American markets wheat was quoted at approximately 6s per bushel, and in Australia supplies were practically unprocurable to-day at 6s Id. Mr Nosworthy added that early in the year he had made a personal appeal to farmers to grow wheat, and although the result of his appeal could not be stated with any definiteness, he bad information to show that the acreage already put in about equalled that of last year—namely, 185,C00. The sales of seed wheat for spring sowing were recorded as active, and he expressed the/ hope that at least 250,000 acres would be put down before the sowing season was over. To a large ■ extent the farmers of the South Canterbury districts had been held up by the unseasonably dry , weather experienced, but good rains had fallen within the past three weeks, and this, together with the fact that world’s prices looked- so ; favourable, had resulted in larger areas being ploughed and prepared for sowing. In the North Canterbury district the area being put under wheat crop was undoubtedly as large, if not larger, than that of last year. « Summed up, the Minister _ stated that whilst some farmers were looking upon the growing of wheat as a national duty, other farmers considered it purely from the business standpoint. Judged even from this latter point of view. Mr Nosworthy was emphatic that the indications of prices the world over -would act as a strong incentive to growers to put in wheat. He repeated that after February' 28 next the Govern* ment would exercise no control beyond the duties mentioned. The Government was prepared to cam- out its promise, and at the earliest possible opportunity he would n.sk Parliament to support him in imposing the additional 10s on flour. He expressed the sincere hope that this encouragement would-be given to farmers, and that during the remaining sowing months, August and September, a very large addition would bo made to the acreage sown in wheat.