THE WHEAT DEAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3124, 30 June 1917, Page 10

THE WHEAT DEAL

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT

In the Houee of Representatives ,vcsIcivliiy several members asked lor im'oruiatiun I'Sgardiuf the GuvernniDiit'.s recent deal in wheat. The siibjeul arose during' tlie diseiiosion on the. Imprest Supply Dill, which proposed to vote a sum of .£IOO,OOO lor the jniiKilliwe of wheat. Sir Joseph Ward, Minister of l'Mnaiice, explained that the vote was a first, instalment. OWier voted woukl require to be made as the payments Sot wheat became due.

Mr. T M. Wiltord Mlutt) asked when the Ministers proposed to uhice the facts regarding the wheat deal before the House.

Mr. Okey (Taranaki) said that members were entitled to information before, they voted the money, [fee wanted to know the price in Australia and tho landed cofl.

Sir .Tosepli Ward told members iliat it was impossible for Ministers lo deal with tho wheat purchase and other important tnatlers on an Imprest Supply Bill. The motion wovi.id oo'mo forward later.

Mr. Nosworthy (Ashburton) s-,iid that tho farmere woro entitled to lull inlormation tlie Austrnliaii wheat. Had the resiilitiou? .concerninj; :i local purchase of wheat been pzelted: The farmers were concerned witli the position and needed definite assurances.

Mr. AVilford ivppcaled to Ministers to take tlie House into their confidence regarding public mattoi'6. IJ" uiislaltes had been made in New Zealand, as they had been in other countries diM-injr the war, lot the h'utii bo told. Tlion the ITouso would be ready to co-operate heartily in putting matters l'ighr. M.r. Noswoi-thy nsked if the Australian wheat cost as much landed in New Zealand as tho fanners of Canterbury hiul offered to take for local ivhoat. Ministers did not make aty staWßieJit on the subject.