GROWERS WANT EMBARGO.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 19 March 1927, Page 2

GROWERS WANT EMBARGO.

PETITION TO GOVERNMENT. t / ! A representative gathering of North Otago wheat-growers yesterday was unanimous in its ; support of a petition being presented to the Government agking that an embargo be placed on Australian flour. It is hoped to get as many as 3COO signatures to the petition. The meeting was held at the instigation of the North Otago brahch of the Farmers' Union and was presided over by the president of that body (Mr R. B. Meek). The membefor for Oamaru (Mr E. P. Lee), ejvas also in attendance. Mr Meek explained that the rneeting AvaS called to consider the position in which wheat growers were placed. The Farmers' Union had approached the Minister of Agriculture regarding the wheat industry and his reply had already been published giving the Government's objections to an embargo on Australian flour. Mr Meek detailed what had taken place at the meeting of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association last weelc and read correspondence which had passed between Mr J. G. Ruddehklau and the Minister. Mr Meek said no farmer was anxious to glut the market so that prices would fall as they had done. The Government had a 'tariff agreement with Australia since September 1, 1922, but Australia was trying hard to break the agreement and he quoted from correspondence to show that the door was shut to New Zealand potatoes. Last ye.ar they had sent £24,900 worth of pork and bacon to Australia, but Australians now wanted an increased duty on New Zealand bacon and h,ams. Last, but by no means least, was the dairy produce. Last year they sent 34,945 cwt of butter to Australia, but Australian dairy farmers were out to do. all they could to make the sale of New Zealand butter impracticable in the Commonwealth by asking for a duty up to 6d a lb. Mr J. G. Ruddenklau: They actually have the embargo on potatoes. Mr Meek said Australia was closing her doors to New Zealand produce, but Australian wheat was allowed to come in and cripple the New Zealand wheat growers. That showed that 'the reciprocal agreement was not working with the desired effect. While all the imported flour was going to the North Island, what were the people of the South the detriment of the lactl producer. were unable to sell it and it was left on their hands. Wheat was now quoted at 5s a bushel, and the millers would not buy. He did not say he was in favour of any control of prices, but he would like to see an embargo placed on overseas produce coming into New Zealand to the detriment of the local produce. If some of the North Island M.P.'s realised the position the South Island farmers wei*0 up ,against ,they would talce a very^ different view. The executive of the Farmers' Union recommended forwarding a petition to the Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture asking that something should be done. Mr Meek said the following resolution was suggested by the executive: — "We the growers of wheat in North Otago, humbly pray that you will immediately place ,a total embargo on flour and oats >wntil such time as we require impor.tation for our needs; and the growers of wheat further wish to point out that on aecount of the advancing costs due to the continued increases in wages granted by the Arbitration Court, it is practically impossible to carry on the wheat growing industry on a profitable basis." x Mr Ruddenklau said petitions were being signed in Canterbury and he thougkt it would be a good thing if they could send a peittion supporting the movement in Canterbury. Farmers were kaving trouble at the present time. The wheat was threshed and in the bags and farmers were -unable to hold on to it and were forced to sell at 5s. The Government were up against this, but he did not think the Minister understood the position farmers were in. He hoped! tlrs petition would go out unanimously because it was only by strength that they could hope to do anything, anjl he was quite satislied that if the position was improved the town would

suffer more than the wheat growers. The Minister of Agriculture's reply*, ,as to why an embargo was not put on was in_his opinion foolish. Mr Ruddenklau said there were 50,000,000' more bushels of wheat in Australia this year than last, and how could they expect millers to buy more than from hand to mouth quantities? The consequence was that farmers were unable to sell their wheat. He urged npon all farmers to sign the petition. A communication was read from the Timaru branch asking for cooperation in forwarding a similar petition to the Government Mr L. Murray said in the case of there being a shortage this year and farmers were discouraged from growing wheat the following year, what was to become of the industry? It would go out and the country would suffer in the end. He thought the Minister was wrong in his ideas about an embargo. Mr J. E. Tallentire said he intended supporting the petition. Some time ago farmers had received a circular asking them to give. employment to those out of work, but how could they do that if their pimduce was held up? "I can't grow wheat at 5s a bushel, and I t can grow it as cheap as any man in the room," added Mr Tallentire. » Mr R. Walker thought they should strike oats out of the petition. Mr D. J. Ross said South Otago wanted an embargo on oats and North Otago should support them. The chairman: We should support the farmers in South Otago and recommend an embargo on oats. The meeting decided to mclude oats in the petition. Mr Lee pointed out that the resolution was suggesting one, remedy only and that was an embargo on flour. He suggested that they should add, either an embargo or other effective means of bringing about the same results. Members thought Mr Lee's suggestion a good one and the words "or other effective means" were added to the resolution. The resolution in its amended form was unanimously carried. In reply to Mr G. Bruce, the chairman said the text of the resolution would be on the same lines as those passed in Canterbury. Mr Meek said the petition would be placed before the Prime Minister when he visited Christchurch shortly, and it would be necessary to get busy. On the motion oi Messrs D. Cameron ancl Tallentire, Mr Lee was electcd an honorary raember of th" executive cf the Farmers' Uiiipu.

Mr Lee said the subject was so important to the Dominion that one might have reasonably expected that the Minister of Agriculture would have dropped sorne of his northern engagements and come down to discuss the- question on the spot. Mr Lee added that he would be very' pleased to go to Christchurch with the deputation that was to present the petition. The chairman and Messrs A. Murray and J. G. Ruddenklau were appointed to meet the "Prime Minister in support of Ihe petition. €ost of Production. Mr Ruddenklau said> another important matter was the cost of production. At present they must get a higher price for their produce to show a profit, They should not be fighting for the bigh price of wheat, but for a fair profit on their growing. A voice: Hear, hear. Mr Ruddenklau said everything they handled was 90! per cent. wages and the Arbitration Court kept on increasing wages. He moved that the meeting expuess its dissatisfaction with the administration and working of the Arbitration Court in fixing wages on the uneconomic basis of cost of living instead of the ability^of the employer to pay and that the Minister of Labour be asked to bring about an amendment. that would give the necessary relief to give farmers a reasonable chance of carrying on a profitable business. Mr D. Roger thought the matter should be held over till the^ lisual monthly meeting of the Upion. Mr Ruddenklau said the question was an urgent one and he thought a resolution carried by a meeting of farmers would have considerable weight. Mr Ross said as there was no >farm labourers' /award they would not 'be justified in passing the resotion. _ . lution. Ruddenklau said it was the Arbitration Ccoirt that was keeping up the ! scale oi wages . 1 Mr- Forrester: Why not ask for ; ihe abolition of the Arbitration ; Court? I Mr Ruddenklau: I do not know that we should do away with the Court ,but it sho'uld be administered in a diflferent way. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. _ The action of the Farmers' Union in calling farmers together to formulate a. petition to the Government was heartily endorsed.