MAIZE AND BOOTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 160, 27 September 1927, Page 8

MAIZE AND BOOTS

PLEAS FOR PROTECTION ;AN IMPRESSIVE DEPUTATION (TUB SUN’S Parliamentary Ketarter , WELLINGTON, Monday THE reduction of the duty on mai-, from 2s to Is a cental is view!! with alarm by growers in the Bav It Plenty and Poverty Bay districts wk have approached the Minister of tv o toms, the Hot. \V. Downie Stewan with requests that the original qtZ tection should be retained. woAnother deputation waited upon u. Downie Stewart this afternoon It con stated of Messrs. L. Kells, represent ing the commercial interests, and c Witters, representing the growers and was attended by the Hon. K. S Vii liams. Bay of Plenty. Sir Apira--Ngata, Eastern Maori, F. F. Hocklr Rotorua, O. J Hawken. Minuter of Agriculture. W. Jones, Marsden anc C. E. McMillan, Tauranga. Mr. Kells read a resolution passer by the maize growers, urging the Got. eminent to retain the present tuiß and said that maize was practically the only crop that could be growi profitably In the district. The Minister: How did you get on before you got the increased duty? Mr. Kells said that they managed to struggle along somehow. The coet of production had been much greater in recent years, and it did not pay In grow maize at less than 5s on the boat. The Minister: Even at 5s you caj undersell the imported crop wither the duty. INCREASED PRODUCTION Mr. Kells pointed out that the pip. duction of maize was being steadily increased, and this year there would be about 500 acres more, which had been planted under the impresßiea that the protection would be retained. Mr. Witters said that the duty of Is came into effect too late for the farmers to grow extra maize in the 1925-26 season, but up to this year there had been an appreciable increase in the area sown. They ctmiii not afford to grow maize for 4s W when It cost.4s, and he did not think it would be a hardship to .he consumer to make it 5s or higher. The reduction would have a serious effect on the production during the coming season. The Minister: You see you hare got powerful friends in the House and CabineL It is for the farmers’ repre. sentatives in the House to say which they consider the most Important interest: the pig and poultry breeders or the maize growers. Obviously whzt guided the commission was the fact that the duty which was increased in 1925 had not led to any great increase in the crop, and was followed by t substantial increase in the price. The Minister added that it was really a farming problem, and If th« farming members in the House could come together and agree as between the conflicting interests, he was entirely in their hands. Mr. Hockly said that a meeting had been held on Friday morning, when it was suggested that the pig breeders might be willing to retain the present duty on whole maize, and admit ground maize free. The pig breeders' representatives were to get in touch with their people, and tee how the proposal would be regarded. Tie negotiations were still going on. The Minister, having heard much during the pr.st few days about increased protection for the boot trad*, suggested smilingly that if the House agreed to retain the maize duty, tie farmers' members might agree to a 10 per cent, increase on boots. -I- -I- ~v -1; -1- -v -v -1- -1- -I- v v