“TARIFF ESSENTIAL”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 359, 21 May 1928, Page 8

“TARIFF ESSENTIAL”

WHEAT-GROWERS’ PROBLEMS HIGH PRODUCTION COSTS “A protective tariff is essential to the economic existence of the New Zealand wheat-grower. Without protection he would be forced out of business.” This is the opinion of Mr. F. W. Jones, retiring New Zealand general manager of the International Harvester Co., expressed to a Sun representative this morning. Mr. Jones, who left by the Aorangi to-day on a world tour, after which he proposes settling in California, has controlled the activities of the Harvester Co. in New Zealand for the past 18£ years. Much of that time was spent in Canterbury. The New' Zealand wheat-grower was beset with many difficulties not met with in the larger wheat-producing countries of the world, said Mr. Jones. With the comparatively heavy rainfall of this country weed growth was prolific, and this, combined with the relatively smaller areas cropped, made production coets high. In Canada, Argentine or even Australia, with drier climates the soil needed little working to prepare a seed bed. In New Zealand this work required considerable attention. Twitch was one of the worst weeds the farmer had to contend with. To prepare a field in which this weed had obtained a hold involved the loss of considerable time and labour. Again, with the smaller areas cropped and a moist climate, costs of harvesting in this country were considerably higher per acre than in most other countries. Canterbury wheat-growers could not hope to compete on an open market, and if protection was removed they would have to turn their attention to other lines of farming, said Mr. Jones. The effect of this on the country would be tvofold. Firstly, the return an acre wou.’d be lower, and secondly, less labour would be required on the farms. This would, of course, reflect unavourably on all sections of the community. ! i | I [ ! ! ;