AUSTRALIAN WHEAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 423, 14 November 1930, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN WHEAT

CONFERENCE AT CANBERRA. FEDERAL MINISTER’S COMMENT. CANBERRA, Nov. 13. The conference of State Ministers of Agriculture with growers, millers, merchants and other representatives of wheat interests adopted alternative proposals which the Federal Government will be asked to consider in order of preference as follows: (.1) A sales tax of £7 4s a ton on all flour sold by millers for local purposes for a period of one year to December 31, 1931. the proceeds to be distributed among the wheat growers of the various States on a pro rata basis. (2) The Government to guarantee 3s a bushel at country stations. (3) The imposition of a sales tax on flour for local consumption that will return 4s 9d a bushel for wheat at terminal ports. Mr Forde (Acting-Minister of Markets) said that the defeat of the Wheat Marketing Bill in the Senate was a serious blow to farmers, one result being that the Commonwealth Bank could not undertake to pay any guaranteed price. SOUTH AFRICAN DUTIES. CAPETOWN, Nov. 12. An increased duty on flour is to be considered by Cabinet after General Hertzog’s return. The wheat farmers arc pressing for a prohibitive duty, pointing out that when flour was sold at £2 2s a bag, bread was the same price as to-day. It is understood that the Labour members arc unlikely to favour the proposal, which will widen the breach with the Nationalists.