WHEAT AND FLOUR DUTIES

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 22

WHEAT AND FLOUR DUTIES

SOUTH CANTERBURY GROWERS PROTEST AGAINST ALTERATION. TIMARU, June 3. A mass meeting of the wheatgrowers of South Canterbury was held to-day, when a protest was made to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr A. J. Murdoch) against the proposed alteration of the wheat and flour duties. Several hundred growers were present as well as representatives of the A. and P. Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and kindred bodies. The meeting was presided over by Mr J. Bitchener, M.P., for Waitaki. Other speakers who covered various aspects of the situation were Messrs T. D. Burnett, MP. for Temuka, Clyde Carr, MJ?, for Timaru, A. M Shirtcliff (Timaru), and A. J. Davey (Temuka).

At the conclusion of the addresses the following resolution was carried unanimously -‘‘That this representative mee of wheatgrowers, the A. and P. Assec.uusm, the Chamber of Commerce, and kindred associations, make respectful but very firm representation to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture as follows:—For the protection of the wheat industry with its many benefits to the country generally in putting the wheat lands to their full legitimate use and for the protection of allied trades and wage earners that the growers receive the minimum price of 4s 9d per bushel on the basis of on trucks at country stations with the opening of next season’s wheat business; that the sliding scale of duties be not interfered with for the protection of the industry against the huge world surpluses of' wheat, especially in regard to protection to die mills against the importation of flour.” The Minister assured the deputation that he would place the full facts before the Prime Minister, who had been handling the question all through. A NORTH ISLAND GRIEVANCE. DANNEVIRKE, June 4. Interesting reference to the wheat and flour duties was made to-day at a meeting of the executive of the Southern Hawke s Bay Farmers’ Union. One delegate referred to the high price of bread in Dannevirke compared with other towns and suggested that a letter should be written to the Master Bakers’ Association asking in the interests of the farmers whether it would be possible to bring the local price of bread down. The president, Mr James Livingstone, who is a member of the Dominion Executive, remarked that this was a case where they should not have a “ sheltered ” industry such as wheat-growing which kept prices np.