LEFT TO THE HOUSE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 194, 17 August 1931, Page 14

LEFT TO THE HOUSE.

Proposed Rise in Wheat Duties. FREE VOTE TO BE GIVEN. A promise that he would allow a “ free vote of the House ” on the question of increasing the protection to be given to wheat-growers next season from the equivalent of 4s 6d a bushel to 4s 9d, was given by the Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) to a deputation of Canterbury members of Parliament and representatives of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce which waited on him in Wellington late on Friday afternoon. The deputation was introduced by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.), as the outcome of a request made to him by representatives of the Chamber of Commerce that he should call a public meeting to discuss the proposals of the Government to reduce the sliding scale of duties on wheat and flour. It was represented to Mr Sullivan that the protection proposed to be given to the wheat-growers by the Government was not adequate to ensure the possibility of a wages return to the farmers. The Mayor suggested that before beginning a campaign of public meetings it might be worth while again presenting the facts to the Prime Minister. The representatives of the Chamber of Commerce agreed to this suggestion, and Mr Sullivan made arrangements for the deputation on Friday afternoon. Prime Minister’s Attitude. Practically all the Canterbury members of Parliament were present at the deputation to the Prime Minister and most of them -took part in the discussion. In reply. Mr Forbes stated that although he was not prepared to alter the arrangements already made he had no objection to leaving the matter of the threepence additional protection for next season to the free judgment of the House. The effect of the Prime Minister’s promise is that a free vote of the members of Parliament will now be taken on the question of whether the wheatgrowers are to be given protection next season to the extent of the equivalent of 4§ 6d or 4s 9d a bushel. The Government has stated that its proposals provide for the equivalent of 4s 6d a bushel protective duty for the farmers, but the farmers’ experts are of the opinion that the protection would work out at a fraction less than 4s 6d. The wheat-growers have declared that they cannot carry on unless they are given protection to the extent of 4s 9d a bushel.