THE RECIPROCITY PROPOSALS.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13753, 19 June 1913, Page 6

THE RECIPROCITY PROPOSALS.

DUTY ON AUSTRALIAN WHEAT.

PROTEST AGAINST REMOVAL.

3 United Pkess Association.]

Cbristchurch, Juno 18. ;A luncheon which was given by ■Messrs. Wood Bras., the well known, millers, to visiting milkrs,. and others interested, to commemorate the opening of their new elevator (or silo) at Aldington to-day provided an occasion for the ventilation of feelings of alarni on ttio part of the millers at any prospect, of freetrado in flour between this country and Australia. The_.remarks oxpressed considerable uneasiness as j (to tho future, and many speakers •urged as one means of. protection that all millers of tho country should one© «.gain combine, and form a strong combination. Such a- coin bine formerly existed, but it was somewhat broken a few years ago by some members who , tfe.lt aggrieved a* the smallnoss of their monthly orders for manufacture. Their plants 'wore not fully occupied, and they desired' that they should be go. Mr. W. Evans, the eldest miller hero, f.aid the [position was such that all th<s millers present, and elsewhere, should ibind themselves together again, and re-form the old trust —although it was < nob really a trust. What was the premmt position ? TJio Hon. A. Fisher had fcuggostod that there should be free trad© in wheat with Australia. If they did get such freetrdao they must understand the position: The farmers of /this country would not grow enough wheat to keep the millers going, and •they would have to depend on Austraiia,, and Australia in time* of drought would have to depend on America. In that ca«o threo countries wtmld be relying on one, and if war broke out in tho meantime there would be trouble. Mio hoped that the present association would send a deputation to tho Government before tho House started its session, and thoroughly understand rv/hat its intentions were with regard ibo freetrade. ".Freetrade," ho continued, "will «ot suit us at all here at the- present time, if wo know when years of uteought are coming it will be all right, (but wo cannot know that." He did not tbhink the present Government would abolish, the dxity, becauso it was a farmers' government. Ho had been a little tmrprisod, howovor, to hear that some of tho farmors wore going over to freeifcrado.

Mr. R. Allen remarked that there iwas not a doubt in his mind that Mr. iFisher was in favour of f reetrado. They ihad only to think what would happen hinder freetrado to su* the danger, and -they had also to remember that a few years ago it wa» saved in the House by only one vote. He argued the question from the farmers' point of view, and Risked what they would gain. Even at present some dumping was done, and if (the pound duty went in it would bo far irnoro extensive. Ho, personally, • would like to see the association bound togothor again. At an executive committee meeting <>£ the North Canterbury Farmers' Un*Ctt to-day Mr. Leadloy said he had lieard that in the suggested commercial agreement between Australia and 'Now Zealand a provision was made for rfcho removal of duty on Australian •wheat or flour coming into New Zealand. He considered that a. protest should be made against this arrangement, for it would seriously affect the future of Canterbury, which was tho principal grain-growing district in New Sjealand.

A motion was adopts =a-sking the Government to receive a deputation on •the subject before the ratification of the rtgreoment was discussed.