LIMIT OF PROTECTION

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1931, Page 16

LIMIT OF PROTECTION

WARNING TO WHEATGROWERS.

GENEROUS TREATMENT GIVEN,

“I hope the. wheatgrowers will take the advice that has been given to them and not open their mouths too wide, because if they make too noise they will lose the protection they have.” This warning was issued by the Hon. J. B. Donald, Postmaster-General, in his speech in the financial debate in the House of Representatives on Friday.

Mr. Donald, who did not announce whether his voice carried the imprimatur of the Government, said there was a feeling among many members of Parliament that the Government had been giving insufficient attention to the wheat farmers of the South Island. “When we consider that those 1 who grow wheat in this country are getting three times the price received by their friends in Australia, it cannot be said that they' are getting unfair treatment,” said the Minister.

Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Ind., Gisborne): They are getting too good a treatment. Mr. Donald:' I suggest that those who are trying to force the Government’s hand for higher protection • had better take care, because the public >will not stand too much. (Hear, hear.) It is more than likely that before long, if the present agitation continues, we will find the protection wiped off altogether. We must have wheat, which is a staple article of diet, and we must have offal manufactured in this country, and the millers, and also the farmers, should be protected, but it is absolutely wrong that they should be protected above a reasonable limit. The Government has been very generous to farmers and millers in the proposals it has brought down. Mr. J. A. Macpherson (United, Oamaru): Gopd to the bakers. Mr. Donald added there was no reason why the wheat farmer should have his land kept at £2O an acre while other farmers saw their equity dwindling away to nothing. This was particularly so with the sheep farmer, and, to a less extent, with the dairy farmer. A Reform interjeetor: More sol. Mr, Donald: The wheat farmers haye been most fortunate and it would be advisable for them, along with the millers, to realise the favourable position in ■ which they find themselves. “I. regret it is not possible at present for the poultry farmers of the North Island to get some rebate, and I hope it will soon become possible for fowl wheat to be imported into the North Island on a lower rate of duty. The farmers there are entitled to a rebate, because the poultry farmers of the South Island have an advantage of a shilling a bushel on the price of fowl wheat. I sincerely hope the growers will realise the seriousness of the position,” continued Mr. Donald.