MENACE TO FARMERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17502, 26 February 1931, Page 9

MENACE TO FARMERS

AUSTRALIAN CEREALS BENEFIT OF EXCHANGE RATE (Per Presß Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Importation of cereals and other produce into the Dominion from .Australia is causing concern to fanners, and at to-day’s meeting of the North Canterbury executive of the Edrmcrs’ Union, it .was decided to ask the Government to ic-i;uprise duties on these lines. Mr. Colin Mclntosh said the high exchange rates were .in favor of Australian exporters, earning the following deductions from prices: Flour, 30s a ton; pollard, 12s (id a. ton; oats, 4d a bushel; hurley, ltd a bushel. A dumping duty could be imposed against countries with depreciated currencies but the present law did not allow of its being applied to .imports from the British Empire. It was imperative that this be remedied. The removal of duty on stock foods in September, 1930, had Jed to heavy importations. This would render unsaleable Canterbury wheat,, which owing to unfavorable seasons, was below nulling grade. He moved, “That the Government be asked to re-impose a duty on maize, chuff, bran, pollard, and barley.”

Mr. W. 11. Mulholland, in seconding the motion, said that if the prices for produce fell much lower in New Zealand, it would mean ruin for the farmers. The motion was carried.

It was also resolved that the attention of the Government be drawn to diseases in Australian chaff, and the necessity for the protection of New Zealand crops from the introduction of such diseases.