Page 1 Advertisements Column 6

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIII, Issue 3538, 24 July 1907, Page 1

HAT WOULD BE THE RESULT IP THE DTY ON OR W EKE E EMOVED? WHY, THROUGHOUT THE Naturally up this way the seriousness would not bo quite so apparent as in the South. For instance, duty free Flour would mean the shutting down of all Flour Mills, thus throwing a large number out of employment. No wheat would be grown, as the New Zealand farmer couldn’t compete, and it does not pay to ship to London, being too far away, and having to rely on cheap casual freights; nor could we compete with the world’s sweated surplus of flour. How many Southern Grain Merchants have come to grief during the last 20 years by shipping wheat to London ? OUR COAL MINES would suffer considerably, as the Milling Industry is a fair consumer, without mentioning the large quantity used in threshing wheat. FARM LABOURERS, Croppers, Threshers and Carriers, with numerous teams of horses, would have to go seeking, as well as those in the artificial manure line, and numerous other allied trades, etc. THE RAILWAY REVENUE would suffer to such an extent by shrinkages (which would be very pronounced in Canterbury and North Otago) that all classes of rates throughout the colony would have to be increased to fill the gap ; and what about the railway employee—would he not suffer ? The London market is often mentioned for New Zealand wheat, but when New Zealand’s insignificance in that line is shown by other wheat-pro-ducing countries, the removal of our duty "to permit sweated surplusages from those countries (earned by foreign ships, with foreign crews, at low wages, to the detriment of our New Zealand ships, with good wages) which prohibit our produce, etc., by excessive duties, would mean that we would be wiped out of existence by cheapness and adulteration; so it is obvious we must be protected, and grow for local consumption to prevent a slump in the labour market and increased railway rates throughout the colony. India is a British Possession, with coloured labour, and is producing wheat and Hour at an alarming rate, and could New Zealand compete with Coolie labour ? . Australian wheat-growing land is very cheap compared to New Zealand’s, and the Australian railway tariff on grain is about 30 per cent, lower than ours, so we must be careful. And Australia cau always produce Flour from 20s to 23s per ton cheaper, owing to its wheat being cheaper, and by-products, Bran and Sharps, bringing considerably more, owing to the absence of green feed during the summer, autumn and winter. Australia had a serious drought in 1002, and its Customs Tariff was not altered for New Zealand’s benefit, as the Commonwealth of Australia wisely ruled that the drought was only of a temporary character, and they had to bear one another’s burdens; though in New Zealand the cry is; Off with the duty, to crush the New Zealand farmer and others, who have been heavy losers by the recent New Zealand drought. Flour at present in Sydney is £O, and the lib loaf is GJd if booked, and )d less for cash ; so, what wouldbe the advantage of removing the duties but untold disaster:' I n New Zealand the miller is guided by the price he has to pay the farmer for wheat, like in any other part of the world, and naturally, owing to the draught, and excitement in the world’s markets, local prices have advanced. After all, it is a question of supply and demand, and if wo bought too high, and the farmers reaped the benefit, would the public assist us by sharing the loss 'i The following statement show's a tew exporting countries that New Zealand would have to contend and compete with: — WORLD’S EXPORTABLE SURPLUS 1904 AND 1905. Russia 20,000,000 Quarters. Balkan Peninsula 5,000,000 „ United States 0,000,000 ~ Canada 3,000.000 Argentine ... 12,000,000 „ India 10,000,000 Chili, etc. 2,000,000 „ Australia ... 3,000,000 „ 61,000,000 NEW ZEALAND’S EXPORTABLE SURPLUS WAS 500,000 QUARTERS. And this year (1907) it is NIL, owing to drought, The United States, Canada, India Argentine, and Australia are increasing yearly. mUE SOUTHERN FLOUR ± TRUST (52 strong) has never had a chance ot getting on its feet, owing to the vigour of “CHAMPION” MUSCLE RAlSEß—vide Otago Times, Taranaki Herald, Napier Daily Telegraph, Wairarapa Daily News, Waihi Daily Telegraph, Bay of Plenty Times. Wo are in no way connected with any MILLING TRUST, ASSOCIATION, or COMBINE, TpEEE IN JgVERY JJESPECT. P. VIRTUE, Manager. N O R T HERN R OLL E R I\/TILLING riO., T IMITED,