1931
the prices ruling up to 1926-27. We want to know how much more wheat would have been grown up to that time with lower costs. Some of that possible new production would have been destroyed by the present low price, but so also will some of our present production, unless wheat costs are relieved in some way—whether by increased efficiency or some form of subsidy."
Paragraph 138 (inter alia).—"Deducting cost of seed and imported material, but including transport to market, the average value of wheat production per acre is about £3 at the average price for the three years 1924-25 to 1926-27, of over 6s. per bushel."
From these inquiries it would therefore postulate that wheat carried 10 per cent. on a 6s. per bushel price (in view of the fact that the 1 per cent. deduction for the assistance to other primary producers does not benefit wheat). which means 7.2 pence per bushel. With the lowering values on wheat, the resultant reduction per bushel remains and the percentage considerably increases. As this protection was based on the tariff of 1926-27, since when increases in tariff have taken place, although against these, lower costs in manufacturing machinery, should reduce the cost to the farmer.
In substance the Hon H. Gregory, M.H.R., tenders evidence as follows:—
The future of Western Australia depends on wholly on the prosperous development of its great areas, and particularly those suitable for the growing of wheat. The high costs to the settler in Western Australia have been concurrent with the pioneering of virgin country as against the earlier development of the Eastern States when costs of material and labour were considerably less. The following duties in 1913 as compared with 1931 are illuminating:—
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| | |
| 1913. | 1931. |
|_______________________|_________________________|
| | | | |
| British. | Foreign. | British. | Foreign. |
________________________________________________________|____________|___________|____________|____________|
| | | | |
| s. d. | s. d. | s. d. | s. d. |
Timber, large sizes per 100 super. | 1 0 | 1 0 | 10 6 | 12 6 |
| | | | |
Galvanised Iron, per ton | 20 0 | 30 0 | 110 0 | 150 0 |
| | | | |
Fencing Wire, per ton | Free | Free | 52 0 | 172 0 |
| | Bounty Removed. | |
Barb Wire | 10 % | 15% | 68/- | 180/- per ton |
| | | | |
Scoops | 12 ½% | 15% | 20% | 30% |
| | | | |
Tools of Trade: Axes, Shovels, Saws, Forks, etc. | Free | 10% | 55% | 75% |
| | | | |
________________________________________________________|____________|___________|____________|____________|
Professor Perkins in his evidence before the Disabilities Commission in South Australia gives the following relative costs:—
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| South Australian Prices. |
|________________________________________________|
| | |
| 1913. | 1931. |
________________________________________________________|_______________________|____________ ____________|
| | |
| £ s. d. | £ s. d. |
| | |
4-Furrow Plough | 32 0 0 | 42 11 0 |
| | |
15-Tyne Cultivator | 39 0 0 | 76 9 3 |
| | |
16-Hoe Drill | 43 10 0 | 67 17 6 |
| | |
1-Leaf Harrow and Bar | 9 0 0 | 10 12 1 |
| | |
Hay Trolly | 66 0 0 | 166 0 0 |
| | |
Tip Dray | 26 0 0 | 52 0 0 |
| | |
6ft. Harvester | 104 0 0 | 119 9 9 |
| | |
5ft. Bag Lifter | 1 15 0 | 2 2 6 |
| | |
No. 4 Chaff Cutter | 15 12 0 | 24 14 0 |
| | |
6ft. Binder | 40 0 0 | 73 2 6 |
| | |
Oil Engine | 142 0 0 | 192 0 0 | ________________________________________________________|_______________________|_________________________|
an increase of cost on the articles enumerated of 59.38 per cent.
Professor Perkins Continues:—
Tools of trade increased in price in 1930 by 77.73 per cent.
Certain harness increased from £21 16s. 9d. to £31 1s. 8d., or 42.3 per cent.
Note.—We must admit that portion of the extra cost of production must be attributed to the increased cost of wages and other causes.
Mr. Gregory continues:—
Comparative Prices of Machinery.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | Cash retail price, |
| Cash retail price, | Cash retail price, | Victoria, Australian |
| U.S.A | Canada | made |
________________________________________________________|________________|________________|________________|
| | | |
| £ s. d. | £ s. d. | £ s. d. |
| | | |
6ft. Binder | 43 15 0 | 52 3 9 | 69 19 2 |
| | | |
4 1/2ft. Medium Mower | 17 8 4 | 19 5 5 | 34 4 0 |
| | | |
9ft. Hay Rake | 10 13 4 | 11 13 4 | 18 10 0 |
| | | |
9ft. Spring Teeth Cultivator | 22 18 4 | 24 18 5 | 32 5 3 |
| | | |
3 H.P. Oil Engine | 25 0 0 | 30 4 2 | 58 8 6 |
(4 H.P.)
Plus 7 per cent. on Agricultural Machinery to 12 per cent. on other goods for shipment from Eastern States to Western Australia.
