WHEAT DUTIES

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 222, 18 April 1933, Page 6

WHEAT DUTIES

Labour Party's Policy GUARANTEED PRICES Press Association—Copyright Auckland. April 17.—Support for a policy of wheat duties was given by the Dominion conference of the Labour Party to-night. A committee which was appointed by the last annual conference to consider the wheat and flour industry reported that in its opinion "guaranteed prices would provide the solution of the wheat problem for the farmer. The award rates of wages would protect the workers, and strict administration of the regulations, which could be provided tinder the Board of Trade Act. v/eu!; 1 Lj a substantial guarantee against ;.ne i .' sta-

tion of the consumer.' The committee expressci.. uic view that the guaranteed prices must rest on a foundation of monetary reform. Un1— purchasing power was increased as pn auction increased the prices could not be maintained, and guarantees would be undermined. The greater part of whatever exploitation took place in connection with the supply of wheat products occurred after the wheat left the farm, and that was where control was chiefly valuable.

The report concluded: "In view of the apparent monopoly of wheat and wheat products by the milling and distributing agencies, which results in unduly high prices to the consumers, the committee recommends (1) that the Department of Industries and Commerce be authorised to exercise powers conferred by the Board of Trade Act so as to ensure complete control of production and importation of wheat and wheat products and control of prices from farm to factory and to consumer; (2) that subject to the payment of award rates of wages in the wheat and milling industry adequate tarif rates or adequate subsidies on wheat be supported until complete control of industry and prices is arranged under the Board of Trade Act; (3) the establishment of State flour mills." The report was adopted.