WHEAT ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1929, Page 5

WHEAT ENQUIRY

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 9. In the course of evidence ait the wheat protection inquiry, Machin (general manager of the F'armers Coop. Association of Canterbury) said it was esimated that the protection of the wheat growing industry cost ■■bread eaters of New Zealand less than five shillings per head per annum. On an average the net profit to growers over a series of years was fourpence per bushel which could not he tonsidered excessive. He submitted that New Zealand must retain the wheat growing industry if she wished to maintain a race of good agricultural farmers. Sound mixed farming practice and education demanded the growing of wheat and both soil and sons would be poorer without it. Dumping duties Were not efficacious and embargoes seemed out of the question. He believed it would be better to .e,xport New Zealand’s surplus wheat in the form of flour, in order ..that milling might be done in New Zealand.

Professor Tocher (Professor of Economics at 1 Canterbury College) submitted a lengthy statement in which he classed > wheat growing as essentially a key- industry, any dislocation of which; would have farreaching effects on other related industries. The effects might be more costly than duties on wheat and flour are at present. Tire effect of the removal of duties would he to reduce v heat growing by about one-half of the present acreage. The present was an unsuitable time to introduce drastic changes in the conditions oi production. The industry produced a commodity which was a first essential o,f life. Overseas supplies were somewhat unreliable and sub’ect to variations in quantity and price. It might he cheaper in the long run for tiie community to make some sacrifice to secure adequate reliable local supplies at stable prices.