BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1923, Page 1

BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LOXDOX, April 0. The British Agricultural Tribunal, which began inv ■ ■.-ligations on Dccember 12tli. last, has presented an interim report. It urges the Government to take the iinanehtl responsibility for the reducing of the railway rates on farm produce bv net less than 25 per cent. The Tribunal, while it does not propose an import duty on wheat, yet recommends that all importers -of wheat and Hour should he required to import

a corresponding quantity of wheat offals. say, ‘25 per cent, of offals to 75 per cent, of flour.

The report recommends an import duty of PL per quarter on malting barley, and one of 2l)s per cu t. on hops, in each case with one-third of a pto-fet-eme for ihe Dominions. The Tribunal recommends beet sugar production should continue to enjoy an exemption from excise duty long enough to enable the experiment of growing it to be thoroughly tested. The Tribunal says it is impressed with the progress of lor the co-operative marking of imports from Europe and the British Dominions. The Tribunal considers: “So long its our farmers remain in their present unorganised state, both for production and marketing, they arc exposed to very serious disadvantages in comparison with the overseas suppliers.” Regarding the Tribunal's proposals, some leading Ilnur and grain importers have written to Sir .]o-eph Cook (Australian High Commissioner) urging hint to make representations to the British Government in that connection. If. they state, the proposals are carried out, the trade in flour anil barley is bound to -offer. They point out that oll'.ds are urgently required in Australia. If. however, it were made compulsory to ship them with Hour, the result would be that little or no Hour could he exported. Thus, great damage would be inflicted on the milling industry in Australia. There is no short- j age of offals, they stale, in Britain, j On tile other hand, much olfal i- being ; exported to the Continent. The writers also suggest that these j proposals regarding compulsory importing of ofl'ais emanate from the Hour i millers in the United Kingdom with | the idea of improving their own trade. This would, they claim, be to the detriment of the masses, lor any restriction on the imports of Australian flour, which is cheaper than any Hour of similar quality, is not likely in induce lhe Home millers to reduce their prices.