DUTIES ON WHEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1931, Page 10

DUTIES ON WHEAT.

(To the Editor.)

Sir—May I make some observations on your shb-leader of April 24 on wheat duties. The main object of the duties is (for various good reasons in the national interests that need not be gone into now) to make New Zealand selfsupporting in its wheat supplies, .lhe area sown last year was sufficient foi that purpose, and although dry climatic conditions in parts of Canterbury, this year prevailed, there will be sufficient New Zealand wheat available for requirements. Hence the policy has been fulfilled. One argument freely used by opponents o( the scheme last year was that it was so attractive to wheat farmers that they would sow Lhousamls of acres in excess of New Zealand’s requirements. Wheat farmers who know what their costs and profits are not having done so surely is an elleetive. answer in that regard. So much tor the quantity of wheat grown Now regarding the quality ot the wheat. A certain limited amount of flour importation still continues. It always has. But the seientilie wheat research department established by the Government is aiming nt producing improved wheat strains to remove 01 reduce the need for importations. Scientific research, as you know, takes time. Yoijr suggestion that there is the suspicion it is not the wheat-grower who is receiving tlio benefits of the duties

is one which, I have no doubt, the Government with its full powers of investigation will thoroughly probe and satisfy itself on in the public interest. Prices of wheat in Australia to-day show ft considerable loss to the Aus-tr-.liau farmer—so much so, that in New South Wales the Government is taxing the people £2 10s per ton 01: all iloui sold for bread-making, to partly meet this loss. For dialetical purposes zealous partisans keep on quoting these very cheap ‘‘sweated” Australian rates. Last week the matter was discussed in Parliament, free from any provincial partisan angle, and not even the Labour Party was prepared to scrap or fundamentally alter the present position. —I am, etc., LUX.