FLOUR SUPPLIES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10317, 28 January 1927, Page 4

FLOUR SUPPLIES

MINISTER REPLIES TO CRITICS

CONDITIONS OF IMPORTATION

WELLINGTON. Jan. 27. The Acting Prime Minister ('the Hon. Downie Stewart) dealt to-day with, the question of imports of flour and replied to critics, particularly to those from Canterbury concerned for the welfare of Canterbury wheatgrowers if wheat is imported from Australia at a lower price than it is selling in Australia itself. Mr Stewart said he was fully alive to the difficulty but he failed to see that reasonable supplies of flour for the Dominion’s requirements were available in New Zealand up till the time the new crop was ready for milling. Importations were absolutev essential to bridge the gap caused v the threatened serious shortage of lour. This shortage was known _ to some of his critics. It was beyond all reason to suggest that by imposing extra duties he should check necessary importations of flour and compel the public to pay a higher price when there were insufficient supplies on the local market, and the new wheat crop was not ready for mi ling till near the end of February. No Government could possibly justify making imports more difficult- and more costly. wltile New Zealand wheatgrowers’ crops were not ready. The importations of flour were not made or arranged for in excess of the country’s requirements. The importations in sight, plus local supplies are sufficient- the Minisrr thinks, to fill the gap, but at the present stage it- was not in the general interest to impose a dumping

What is proposed now is to admit without a dumping duty. lines of flour from. Australia, for which definite contracts have been made not la•r than January 27, 1927. Such contracts must have a specified shipment by vessels sailing from Australia during January or February, and -the flour must- reach New Zealand before the end of February. Flour which does not fulfil these conditions will have to pay assessed dumping 'duty. It is expected that as the result of this decision no further business ’ll be done between New Zealand importers and Australian supplier? *■ what can properly ,be regarded cdumping prices.—P.A.