WHEAT SUPPLIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1924, Page 10

WHEAT SUPPLIES.

DUMPING BY AUSTRALIA.

EFFECT ON NEW ZEALAND PRICES. FARMERS SEEK HIGHER DUTY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Ashburton, Last Night. The effect of the Australian dumping ol wheat in New Zealand was discussed al a meeting of the Mid-Canterbury provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union to-dav.

Mr. G. AV. Leadley (chairman of the Wheat Board) said the board would cease to function in February, after which it had no power to fix the price. The Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) had given word publicly that the embargo on Australian wheat would not be maintained after February. The Minister could not go back on his promise, and consequently it would be little use asking for a continuance of the embargo. What farmers should ask was that the duty be raised to £3, and if this did not keep Australia out to request that a dumping duty be imposed. He quoted figures showing that Australia would, in the coming season, have a tremendous exportable surplus, which, if no duty were imposed on importation to New Zealand, would secure the North Island demand. In that case the ?outh Island, where most of the wheat was grown in this country, would lose Qjp North Island market. Consequently the surplus in the south would bring the price down. He had heard of cases where North Canterbury farmers had already made sales of 8s 8d a bushel, which was lower than expected at the opening of the season.

The chairman of the executive (Mr. •John Brown) said New Zealand was placed at a great disadvantage by Australian flour, which was flooding the market. Australia could defeat this country every time with a dumping policy. This unfair competition should be stopped.

Mr. W. T. Lili said no matter what the Australian price was, wheat invariably changed hands in New Zealand at a grgatly enhanced price. Somebody was reaping a big profit. There was a shortage of wheat in the western heAiisphere, and upon the result of the harvest there rested the world price. China purchased almost all her wheat in Australia. Mr. Lili stressed the need for co-operation among farmers to stabilise the market. Meat, cheese and ‘butter were controlled, so why not wheat, the most important of all Farmers wanted to sell directly after the harvest, but lack of organisation always kept the price lower than the price which could be secured by combination. It seemed that the Australian Government must offer a bonus Lor exported wheat.

Members remarked that the farmers were divided.

It was resolved to appoint a.- deputation to wait upon the Minister-.for Agriculture, and to discuss the questions of price and Australian dumping.