Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 267, 31 July 1918, Page 4

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS. DOMINION WHEAT-GROAVINCr DOMINION WHEAT-GROWING "Man wants but little hero below—but he usually wants it below cost." MY DEAR PEOPLE,Last year we had a similar wheat shortage to this year's one, and it took about 10 months to get across from Australia a million bushels, and you remember well the scarcity of flour, bran, and sharps. Since then tonnage has decreased, and freights advanced, and there are transit dangers similar in some respect to-what happened to tho Winunera. If you let the Dominion's wheat-growing lapso through bungling, our annual requirements are'about six and a half million bushels. This i 6 not a conundrum, but how long would it take to get it across, and how would you amuse yourselves in the meantime? Don't you think it is about time you aroused yourselves, and mado an effort to save tho Dominion's wheat-growiug industry, as it appears beyond "the seat of knowledgo" to do so? Sir James and Sir Thomas both admit that we aro having a heavy drain on our man-power and resources.- Sir Thomas threw nut a hint, which was resented. (Vide cable and Press Association wire.) Sir James Wilson, President of the Farmers' Union, before tho Military Service Board at Martoii, contended that ploughmen should not bo allowed to leave the Dominion. Tho stores were full of mutton, and in'view of shipping difficulties lambs would probably have to bo carried over next winter, and every available ploughman would bo required if tho exceptional feed necessary was to be grown. Mr. D. Jones, President of tho Canterbury Farmers' Union, when speaking recently on tho wheat question, said; "The war had illustrated it was dangerous for a country to rely upon outside resources for its food supply. The Government : could not compel the farmers to grow wheat unless it provided them with sufficient and efficient labour. The depletion of labour had caused many farmers to adopt other methods—increased stockraising and less grain-growing." Champion suggests that tho Government should at once tackle tho question of permanent wheat-growing in a businesslike manner and, fix the prico at 6s. 9d. or 76. por bushel, f.o.b. at Southern ports, as it cannot be landed in tho Dominion for less, now or later on, before it is too late, and not keep it steadily in view liko our prospective Northern Railways, county roads and land for settlement; otherwise, our generals will bo caught and put tho Dominion at tho mercy of the Commonwealth to pay what it dictates, as its crop this season, aiid not yet harvested, -is'reported to be 33 per cent, lower than last year's one. The ' demand for its wheat from all parts of tho world will be enormous and its oxport prices from 9d. to Is. 3d. per bushel higher than its home consumption one, which is now 4s. 9d. though the farmers aro clamouring for ss. 9d. you can just imagine what wo aro in for if our farmers DO NOT RESPOND, and our Government "keeping tho matter steadily in view." The Hon. Mr. Mac Donald's reply to the Farmers' Union I hope does not imply that the Government will play hide-and-seek with the flour duty by removing it like it did two years ago, but kept it on wheat not to displease the wheat growers, though the gamo forced down the prico of wheat to a loss and mado tho millers tho scapegoat. Was this playing the game? The time that is wasted at this critical juncture, apart from sending tho money out of the Dominion, is simply appalling, and if similar methods were adopted by any business firm, they would become liko the extinct moa, a relic of the past. Tho Government has no competitors at present, and how long will my people bo content to muddle along by listening to platitudes, etc., while our principal food supply is passing to the Commonwealth, which is subject to droughts, etc., and what about our bacon, dairying, and carrying interests, which require largo quantities of bran and sharps, and tho Commonwealth has rarely any to export? Tho Commonwealth's import Customs duty on flour is J62 10s. per ton, on wheat , Is. 6d. per cental; adopted by a businesslike Labour Government. The Dominion's import Customs duty on flour is J2l ! per Hon, and -9d. per cental on wheat, and wo always have a shortage.

My people, cun you wonder at tho Commonwealth always having a surplus under normal conditions at moderate prices? Give the same protection to the Dominion and you will always have enough and to spare at moderato prices, instead of this perpetual tinkering, which is not only exasperating, but quickly killing the most essential industry, wheatgrowing, and its numerous adjuncts, such as railages, etc., as on the raw material tlierc arc always two labour handlings, but. not so on the manufactured imported articles, flour, bran, and sharps. WHY DOESN'T OUR GOVERNMENT ADOPT. THE SAME TACTICS WITH THE BOOT AND CLOTHING INDUSTRIES ?—AND THEN "KEEP THEM STEADILY IN VIEW.". The milling capacity of the Dominion is about three times its requirements, so you need have no fear of inflated prices, as the competition is keen enough, whilo Champion is about, and ho has never taken advantage of you during strikes and war period. My dear people, this is a lieart-to-hoart talk. Now do your duty promptly. I am, ' y AUCKLAND. Nunquam Nou l'aratus. (Never Unprepared, Alway Ready.) THE NATIONAL BANK OP NEW ZEALAND, LIMITED. CAPITAL AUTHORISED ... ,£3,000,000 CAPITAL SUBSCRIBED ... .£2,250,000 CAPITAL PAID-UP JE750.000 RESERVE FUND X 730,000 i' DIVIDEND at the vnto of G per cent, for the hall-year ended March 31 last, and BONUS of 1 per cent., making in all 13 per cent, per annum for the past financial year, has been declared by tho Directors, and will ■bo paid to Shareholders in the Dominion on July 31. D. W. DUTHIE, General Manager. Wellington, July 25, 1918.