DUTY ON FLOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8534, 12 September 1907, Page 5

DUTY ON FLOUR.

IMPORTANT MINISTERIAL, STATEMENT. (By Telegraph—Parliamentary Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, September 11. In the House this evening, on the tariff on agricultural products, the Premier made an important Minis.terial statement. Some members wished flour to be on the free list. If i this was done then wheat also would have to be treated the same, and that would leave no hope for the milters to carry on the industry, while at the same time the wheat - growers would have 110 local markets. If th'J flour duty was removed we would have to depend on Californian and Australian exporter?, which would play into the hands of outside combinations. Bakers would also be in the hands of outside combinations, over whom Parliament would have no control. Thus bread would not be cheapened by taking off the duty. Men not only in town but in the country would be affected thereby, and to take the duty off would result in a very seiious state of affairs. The proper course was to let the Government bring down legislation to enable the Governor-in-Council to remove the duty when flour reached a certain price. There would have to be a maximum price, and when flour reached a certain price the duty would have to be suspended. There would also have to be a maximum price for the two and four-pound loaves. He agreed with members that the consumer should have cheap bread. It was undesirable for the Government to institute flour mills, as thai would involve State wheat growing which was taking too great a responsibility. The Premier, continuing, said that in this country we were in a position to control transit and transport, and so could easil/ pioject ourselves by legislation against trusts such as existed in America. 1 Mr F. M. 13 Fisher considered that the Premier's proposition con tained an element of danger as the Gnverr or-ii -Council really meant the Ministry. He urged the inauguratio i of a tariff board, free from commercial interest. The Premier had urged legislation but would he attempt to pass it this session? Mr A. W. Hogg, while thanking the Premier for his generous compromise, said he preferred to stand by his guns. It was all very well to bring forward arguments in favour of vested interests, but the great mass of people had to be first considered. Messrs T. Mackenzie and Flatman supported the Premier's proposal, the latter declaring that the baker and not the consumer would benefit by the removal of the duty. Mr Massey agreed with the Premier, but said the proposal came from Mr Okey, a member of the Opposition. v The d'scus3ion is proceeding.