FLOUR DUTIES BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 35, 5 November 1907, Page 8

FLOUR DUTIES BILL.

A CHRISTCHURCH VIEW. [by telegraph.—ows correspondent.] Christciiurch, November 4. Regarding the- Flour Duties Bill, the " Times" says it makes a poor attempt to solve a difficult problem. It is safe to prophesy that the measure will pleaso no one. It will merely vex the souls of the millers and grain merchants, so that even this solid Liberal party in Parliament will for once bo unwilling to" support the Government. Tho Bill,.we are afraid, would provo quite unworkable. 'J'licre would be no reduction of duties on wheat, flour, ami potatoes until tlio Arbitration Court could be moved to consider tho position. This tribunal already has as much work as it can effectively handle, and there is no shadow of excuse for burdening it further. Tho " Times " does not seo ivliy the duties should not bo abolished altogether, but if this is not done it thinks the Government might very well institute, a sliding scale system under which the rise in price, about the average level; would be accompanied by an automatic reduction of duties. The systom has boon tried anil found workable in the past, and would no doubt bo found satisfactory in Now Zealand. If the Government really finds tho (lilliculties of the question so great that thoy can bo mot only by the roundabout process outlined in tho Bill, it would bo well advised to leave matters whore they aro.