WATCH THE MILLERS

Wairarapa Age, 18 February 1927, Page 5

WATCH THE MILLERS

A MINISTER’S COUNSEL TO WHEAT-GROWERS.

THE DEMAND FOR PROTECTION.

ALLEGATIONS OF MONOPOLY. —■ — j WELLINGTON, February 17. A request that the Government should increase the dumping duty on flour or alternatively impose an embargo upon importations or set up a, Commission to inquire into the whole question of wheat-growing and milling was made to the Prime Minister, Minister of Customs and Minister of Agriculture- to-day by a Canterbury deputation claiming to represent all interested parties and is to be considered by Cabinet. In the course of the Hon. W. Downie Stewart said he was not at all satisfied that the millers were acting in the best interests of fanners.

The spokesman (Mr W. Machin) said the deputation came as a result of the most united conference of farmers, millers and merchants that had ever been held in Canterbury. They were concerned with the steady decrease in the price of wheat caused by the menace of large Australian importations. The Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Dowuie -Stewart) reviewed the policy of the Government as adopted in Mr. Massey’s time, and said that they wished to interfere as little as possible. It Was imperative that the Government should aet with the utmost discretion and fairness in the matter of dumping duties. If the Government abused its powers there was no question. but that retaliation would come. Mr. Stewart said he quite believed that Canterbury farmers did not regard him as their friend, and remarks he had made previously on the subject had been so distorted, and misused in the Christchurch newspapers and by individuals that he had a grave complaint to make against their unfair criticism. It would have been unjustifiable, he said, to have imposed dumping duties whilh there wa,s a shortage of flour in New Zealand.

POLICY OF THE MILLERS. He suggested to the deputation that they should inquire more closely into the actions of Distributors, Ltd. He was not at all satisfied that the millers were acting in the best interests of the farmers and had evidence which showed that at the very time when they were professing to assist farmers, their agents- in the North Island were doing their best to reduce the price so that they might assume sole control. “I think the utmost caution should be evineed,” said the Minister, “ia. watching the actions of the millers.” Continuing, Mr. Stewart said the question of increasing duties on flour had been considered in view of the grave danger to farmers. Under the tariff treaty with Australia, however, six months' notice must be given of any alteration. It was not feasible, therefore, to make an immediate increase, nor did he think it advisable to place an embargo upon importations, because that would be the same thing s imposing a prohibitive duty, whic 1 was a breach of the spirit, if not o’ :he letter of the treaty. He did not - to pre judge any other action fl Cabinet might like to take. A SUBSIDY ON W7 E T? He could not see any w n which immediate assistance conld bs given to the farmers other than by giving a subsidy on the price of wh t, which opened up a very big and vei difficult question. It seemed clear t’ ■ no dutv would satisfy the Canterbun growers short o£ an embargo. The C -i->ms Department had done its best, deferring again to Distributors Ltd.. M i Stewart said he believed there wa« at need for an inquiry as to their ; • tude toward the farmers and the pri of flour, and as to their general opei ins. All the evidence he had show-d that a great many things were being done in tho direction of their obtaining a monopoly of control. That require ’ investigation. MILLERS AND FA7„ ’.RS. The Minister of Agri., ire (the Hon. O. J. Hawken) saiil 1 was not certain that if there wa nibargo on flour there would be -s ifforenco in the price of wheat. T: vas onlv ono conclusion to be for from a comparison of the figures f his year and last year, and that w hat" the bigger wheat crop had ■-d in a Ipwer offer by the mill Millers were in a very strong p u as far as the farmer was concert NOT KEEN ON COM’ tIONS. In subsequent discussion, Mr. Coates said: “I will put tho :.uer before Cabinet in order that the statements made to-day may bo eons Mered and a decision arrived at. We will inquire first as to temporary .cthods. and then as to whether a C omission is necessary. Personally. I am not a bit keen on Commissions.”—(P.A.)