WHEAT QUESTION

Southland Times, Issue 22096, 17 August 1933, Page 8

WHEAT QUESTION

BOARD’S RESTRICTIONS OBJECTIONS BY MR McDougall REQUEST TO MINISTER During the visit to Gore yesterday of the Hon. E. A. Ransom (Minister of Lands and Railways) opportunity was taken by Mr David McDougall, M.P. for Mataura, to raise the objections of Southland wheat-growers to the restrictions imposed by the Wheat Purchase Board on the sale of wheat. He spoke strongly on the subject and said that the restrictions would have to be lifted—if not by the Government, then by some other means. Mr McDougall first quoted the case of a grower who had 200 bushels of wheat to sell, but could not get the approval of the Wheat Purchase Board to the sale for milling purposes. The man was in a serious financial position and he was being pressed by his mercantile firm and needed the money for his wheat. A milling company was prepared to buy the wheat, but could not get a warrant from the Wheat Board. Another case was quoted of a farmer submitting his wheat to a miller and receiving an offer for purchase subject to the board’s approval, but later advice was to the effect that the board was not buying any Southland wheat. The Canterbury growers had had practically all their wheat put through the mills before the restrictions began to be felt in Southland, and by this time the northern growers did not care whether any southern wheat was sold or not. Southland farmers could not even send their wheat to the mills to have it gristed for their own use. The North Island growers were exempt from the restriction, and southern farmers only asked that they be placed on the same footing and be allowed to sell their wheat how they liked and where they liked. Mr McDougall proceeded to quote the experience of a Brydone farmer. Some years ago when he was receiving 22/- per sack for his wheat bread was costing him lid per loaf. This year, as a result of the interference of the Wheat Board, he was receiving 9/- per sack of wheat and had to pay 1/- per loaf for bread. The Southland growers wanted the restrictions lifted from this province so that JJ»ey could work out their own salvation. Distributors Limited were selling wheat to the North Island for 15/- per ton less than the South Island price, which, contended the speaker, was unfair. Flour in New Zealand was £5 per ton dearer than in Sydney and the price of wheat was the same in both countries. The Minister: Would you advocate the removal of all restrictions? Mr McDougall: Only so far as Southland is concerned. We do not want to interfere with Canterbury. The Minister: You would allow all importations? Mr McDougall: We would not object to a tariff. The Minister: I see. You want all the advantages of a tariff, but none of the restrictions. Mr McDougall: I want an opportunity for the poor people to get a cheap loaf of bread. The speaker continued by saying that the free mills were asking for permission to buy more wheat and the board would not agree. He contended that if the free mills were prepared to buy wheat and sell flour at a reasonable price to give the people bread at sixpence a loaf, they should have the opportunity to do so. The board was sending wheat to China and was taking a levy off the wheat sold within the country in order that it might be given to the Chinese at a much lower price. “It has got to be altered,” said Mr McDougall. “If the Government won’t alter it, then we will get other means. I may tell you, sir, that I won’t see the Southland farmers put in a worse position than the North Island or Canterbury.” Mr Ransom: Did you interview the Minister when you were in Wellington? Mr McDougall: Yes, I interviewed him on different occasions. He then read a letter he had received from the Hon. J. G. Cobbe promising further consideration of the matter. The Minister: I will place your representations before the Minister. I thought you would have done so. Mr McDougall: I have done so several times.