WHEAT DUTIES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1929, Page 5

WHEAT DUTIES

SELECT COMMITTEE SITS

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 28.

The second public sitting of/ the Select Committee of the House, considering the question of wheat duties, was held to-day. Mr Ferguson, representing ..the South Auckland Dairy Association, said the dairy farmers felt that with a high tariff on pig food, it was impossible to raise the right class of pigs for the ex* nort trade. They would prefer the. duty to be taken 'off pig food than receive a bonus of a halfpenny on , the export trade. There was a feeling that there was no benefit, to the farmer from the bonus.

Further evidence was given by the Secretary of Industries and Commerce (Mr Collins) who said the object of the tariff and' sliding scale was to make New Zealand entirely independent if possible. If the Department were, asked to investigate and report on the economic price of bread in order to give a reasonable price and provide for overhead, they would fix the price at a shilling per four-pound loaf. WELT INGTON, Aug. 28. .

To the Chairman of the Wheat Committee, Mr Collins said that were, it not for the duties wheat would . be much cheaper.

, Mr Fawcett, of the Department of Agriculture, speaking in regard to the' poultry’ industry, said there was an over production of eggs in the Dominion. At present the industry was on a downward swing, and this would probably bring about a rise in price in the next few years. One of the big advantages under which the poultry farmer was working was that there was no organisation through which he could buy his wheat advantageously. Witness said he saw there was no prospect of an export market for New Zealand eggs.

The Committee adjourned till next Wednesday.