FARMER HODGE AND THE MILLER.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 April 1927, Page 13

FARMER HODGE AND THE MILLER.

To the Editor of the “Timaru Herald.” i Sir,—Farmin' Hodge, although orI dinarily a patient, plodding sort of individual, was feeling a bit annoyed, j Boor beggar, he had sold his wheat l for somewhere about 5s per bushel, as he was pressed for money to meet his . obligations. He was very dissatisfied, | as he was convinced his wheat should have returned him Gs per bushel. The nay lie reasoned out the prnition was as follows: —Are you playing the game, Mr Miller? At the end of last year . the Government increased the tax ou | flour to £3 per ton. Who is getting the benefit of that tax to-day, MiMiller? Neither the wheat-grower nor the consumer, as the grower is taking to-day a price below the cost of production, and the consumer is still (laying Is per 41b loaf as he did when wheat was 7s per bushel. The wheatgrower thinks the tax should benefit j him, hut by hitter experience lie finds jit does not. He knrnvs that when it i costs approximately £5 10s per ton in tax, freight, etc., to bring a ton of flour from Australia, he should he getting at least- 6s per bushel for his wheat. Mr Miller, you know this tf<o, and you also know that many farmers, when their wheat is harvested, must sell in order to get finance to carry on with. Now is your chance, Mr Miller. You immediately offer him the lowest price you can possibly make hjm sell at. You I know he must take it as there is no I other buyer but yourself. But, Mr Miller, what about killing the goose that lays the golden eggs? If Mr Coates gets Parliament another £1 extra tax on flour (to encourage the farmers to stick to wheat-growing), what will you do next year? Will you also encourage the farmer to grow wheat- by giving him a reasonable price for it, or will yon do as you are doing at the present time, buy all you can get at your own price when the wheat is forced on the market? Take warning, Dir Miller, not only will you kill the goose who grows the golden grain, hut, what will vou do Mr Miller, when there is no golden grain to grind?—l am, etc., “AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM.”