SELF SUPPORT IN BREAD

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1927, Page 9

SELF SUPPORT IN BREAD

WHEAT TARIFF PROPOSAL ASSISTING DOMINION FARMERS. MAINTAINING EQUABLE PRICES. (By Telegraph.) Wellington. Last Night. Considerable attention has, during the recess, been given to the question of the production of wheat in the Dominion, said the Hon. Downie Stewart in his revie of the tariff proposals in the House of Representatives last night. It is the policy of the Government that New Zealand should, if possible, grow sufficient wheat for its own requirements and thus, so far as this essential and staple food of the people is concerned, be independent of outside supplies. During the last few years this matter has been dealt with by means of embargoes on importation, price-fixing and Government control, and importations. These courses were necessary at the time they were brought into operation, but are considered unsatisfactory and should not be continued. The New Zealand farmer will not grow wheat unless he can be reasonably assured of a return sufficient, to recoup him for his labour, cost of production, etc. On the other hand, it is desirable that the price of bread should, as far as statutory provision can ensure, be kept within reasonable limits. It is believed that these objects can best be achieved by means of a sliding scale of duties, decreasing when the prices of wheat and flour rise outside New Zealand, but increasing when the prices- of those commodities fall. The basis upon which the duties are proposed to be levied depends on the current domestic value at the port of export to New Zealand. 'When these values are 5s 6d per bushel and £l3 per ton for wheat and flour respectively, the duty is to be at the rate of Is Id per bushel and £3 10s per ton. These duties decrease and increase in inverse relation to the prices of wheat and flour. It will thus be seen that if the current domestic value of wheat and flour outside New Zealand increase above the figures I have mentioned by (say) 6d per bushel and £1 per ton respectively, the duty will be reduced to 7d per bushel and £2 10s per ton on wheat and flour. On the other hand, if the current domestic values of the commodities decrease by the same amounts, the duty will be limilxrly increased. The Government believes th the result of these duties will be to stabilise within certain more or less definite limits the prices of wheat, flour and bread in the Dominion.