DUTIES ON WHEAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 8

DUTIES ON WHEAT

THE LABOUR VIEWPOINT SPEECH BY MR H. HOLLAND (Per Press Association.) TIMARU, May 15. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr H. E. Holland, delivered a lengthy address here to-night before an audience estimated between 700 and 800. He was accorded a good hearing throughout the two and a-half hours’ addi/'ss. Thu speech was mainly ou the lines of that delivered at Dunedin, with the exception of the wheat question, iu connection with which Mr Holland said that he observed that Mr Forbes and Mr Coates had been making statements iu support of New Zealand industries. Wheat, he considered, was the most important industry, but it seemed to him that the present Government did not worry much about ’ew Zealand industry. The speaker was not saying anything about reducing the duty on wheat, but if the duty was to be reduced then it should be accompanied by something which would safeguard the position of the producer. He thought what was wanted was a systematised arrangement between the Government and the wheat farmers that would provide for putting a certain area under cultivation yearly. There should be provision for the yearly carry-over so that in the event of the crop being affected there would be sufficient to supply New Zealand. The Dominion must, be : elf-contained so far as wheat applies were concerned. The Labour Party would insist, that the interests of those engaged in the wheat industry be safeguarded. The speaker referred to the number of people directly connected with the industry and said the farmer should bo able to secure an adequate return for his labours after providing proper working conditions for workers on the farms. Insufficient attention had been applied to milling in this country. There were 46 mills in the Dominion, 41 of which were in the “combine.” Distributors Limited. It had been stated that twelve mills could easily do all the work that the 46 were doing at the present time. The whole of the marketing of was in the hands of one “combine.” The bakers were to some extent at the mercy of the “combine,” and he considered there should be some means of affording the farmer a stabilised income.

Air Holland was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.