WHEAT-GROWING.

Wairarapa Age, 24 December 1924, Page 5

WHEAT-GROWING.

CESSATION OF EMBARGO. FARMERS ASK FOR CONTINUANCE. ASHBURTON, Dee. 28.—The Minister of Agriculture met a deputation of representatives of the Executives of the Farmers’ Union in \the wheat growing districts to-day. The deputation took the form of a round table conference at which the delegates expressed the view that farmers should receive the utmost possible encouragement to remain in the industry. •NewZealand should not become entirely dependent upon outside sources for supplies of such essential commodities as bread and wheat.

A request was also made that the embargo on Australian flour should be continued till September next in order that the local product, could be used up by the millers. before the Australian flour was marketed. The Minister recalled promises he made to the wheat conference in March last that after February the Government control would eease and that the embargo on the importation would be lifted, and duties of 1/3 per bushel and £3 per ton on flour would be imposed. Also, if the circumstances warranted it, a dumping duty on imported flour would be imposed. The Government, said the Minister, had no intention of revoking its announced decision on any of these points. All the necessary arrangements for the duties mentioned, to become applicable from March 1, were being made. The relinquishment of the Government control of prices was a matter of settled policy, therefore it was quite useless to ask for a continuance of the embargo on the importation of Australian wheat and flour. The Minister pointed out that on the present prospects, the farmers should receive considerably more than 6/- per bushel asked by them in February last. He considered that for the present season wheat growing would be remunerative.—(P.A.)