PRICE OF WHEAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21539, 11 January 1932, Page 4

PRICE OF WHEAT

SLIDING SCALE OF DUTIES MASS MEETING AT WAIMATE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WAIMATE, January 9, A mass meeting, numbering some 200 persons, including wheat-growers and business men, was held in Waimate on Saturday afternoon to formulate a protest against the proposed prices for wheat of the coming harvest: and to press for the reinstatement of the old slidin" scale of duties. The speakers included Mr A. Shirtcliff,' of Timaru, who has taken a prominent part m matters affecting the wheat industry for some years past. Mr Clyde Carr, M.P. for Timaru, who was present, spoke by invitation. . . Mr H. Max Whatman (Waihaorunga) presided, and explained the object of the meeting, which was to help the wheat-growers of South Canterbury and North Otago in the predicament in which they found themselves. The meeting was not in opposition to the Wheat Board, which was doing its best under the restrictions it laboured. It was for the purpose of strengthening the hands of the board in obtaining better condi- _ tions and prices. Mr Whatman referred to the proposal of the Government to reduce the scale of duties so that the wheat-grower might share in the sacrifices of the rest of the country in the present economic depression, but the wheat-growers now were contending with the effects of the drought. Rain had come but it had come too late to give reasonable yields. It was essential, therefore, that some relief should be afforded the growers who otherwise would have to walk off their farms. Mr Whatman commented on the link between the prosperity of the country and the town, and also on the support being accorded the movement by stock and station agents. He then moved the following resolution —“That this representative meeting of wheat-growers, farmers generally, and business interests in South Canterbusy, ask the Prime Minister through the Wheat Board and the member for the district to reinstate the sliding scale of wheat duties as from March 1 so as to give a reasonable measure of relief to the wheat-growers, as owing to drought and other causes, a large number of farmers otherwise will have to walk otx their farms.” . . Mr N. Geaney (Makikihi) seconded the motion. , Mr W. Lindsay proposed an amendment that “farm workers” be included in the resolution as at present. , The chairman heartily agreed to this, and said these workers were as interested in the subject as the farmers themSSIVGS. Mr Shirtcliff said the time was one for plain thought. The Dominion was going to be in serious difficulties when the end of the financial year came s and the prosperity of the country i depended on the primary industries. Farmers must be kept on the land. The prices fixed for the coming wheat harvest meant that wheat-growers were giving away on the year, as compared with last year, Rmn® £400,000. That was too much. The country had been labouring along in a manner in the depression, but now had come the drought. The country would probably have to go outside New Zealand for 2,500,000 bushels of wheat to make up requirements, and he did not want New Zealand growers to accept less than wheat could be bought in other countries. If the old duties were reinstated the grower would be able to get some 5s 6d for his wheat, even then it would not pay him. In this question there should not be a North and South Island in New Zealand. The country should be united in the matter, which was one that affected all sections of the community. There was no place for selfishness in the present situation, especially in the matter of the price of bread. He asserted that the bread made from Australian flour was not better than New Zealand. The Wheat Marketing Board had in all sincerity fixed the prices of some 4s 24d a bushel for wheat, hut the prices were really the result of the amended duties. Action should therefore be taken with the Government, and the old sliding scale of duties should be asked for. The protection asked was really one against flour because if the new duties came m it would be flour that would be imported. After some further discussion the resolution was carried unanimously.