AUSTRALIAN FOWL WHEAT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19273, 29 August 1932, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN FOWL WHEAT

GRAIN MERCHANTS’ PROTEST. The Timaru Grain, Seed, and Produce Merchants’ Association has forwarded a further protest to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, against the importation of Australian fowl wheat until local stocks are consumed. The text of the telegram despatched to Mr forbes is as follows: — “The estimated stocks of wheat held by merchants and farmers in South Canterbury and Oamaru districts are 49,000 sacks. The actual stocks of fowl wheat held by millers are 7000, making a total of 56.000 sacks. Local farmers have been badly hit by drought, slump, and the importation of milling wheat from Australia, and it is essential to their welfare that the importation of Australian fowl wheat be postponed till local stocks are consumed. The difference in price ex-slings. Wellington, between imported and local wheat is apparently 2d per bushel. We suggest this will not materially help the North Island poultry keeper, and certainly does not warrant the sending of so much money out of the country while ample stocks are available.” APPEAL TO COALITION GOVERNMENT. BY GROWERS’ REPRESENTATIVE. In connection with the decision of the importation of Australian fowlwheat, Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., on Saturday sent the following telegram to the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes):—“l am writing you direct as head of the Coalition Government, formed almost on national lines, to see New Zealand through a profound crisis. I’m telling you emphatically that we, as a Government, are betraying the wheat-grower of the south, by letting in Australian fowl-wheat, while there are many thousands of sacks, Canterbury and Otago grown, available at reasonable prices. The latest wheat census to-day shows 13,000 sacks held in Oamaru, 36,000 in South Canterbury, other than millers stocks, while the millers hold 2000 in Oamaru and 5000 in Timaru, of undergrade wheat, making a total of 56.000 sacks held ip Timaru and Oamaru. apart from stocks held by millers. Surely, in fairness to our growers, they should be given a chance to realise and strengthen their finances. How can you expect me, who represents the largest wheatgrowing area in the Dominion, to stand quietly by under such treatment? You are fast driving a wedge between the two Islands.”