FLOURMILLERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18218, 31 October 1924, Page 12

FLOURMILLERS.

COMBINE ALLEGED

STATE INVESTIGATION

(rRISS ASSOCIATION TF.I.EGSXM.)

DUNKPIN. October 30. The flourmilling case was resumed

this morning. William Whitclaw Miller, president of the Southland Bakers' Association. said that as a member of the Association in 1P22, he knew nothing of a movement by the New Zealand Bakers' Association to encourage the formation of Distributors. Ltd. Before the advent of Distributors. Ltd., the usual practice was for millers to deliver flour at bakehouses.

G. Millar, a member of the iirm of A. C. Millar. Ltd.. said that prior to the formation of Distributors, Ltd.. there was no difficulty in getting various northern brands, but difficulty arose after its formation.

Silas Leslie Beer, manager of Helm and Dickson, storekeepers, of Eiverton, stated that after Distributors, Ltd., started, he had difficulty in getting the Hour required. William John Ward, storeman and local buyer for ,T. M. Brown, Ltd., lnvercargill, said that before the formation of Distributors, Ltd., his firm was agent for Stevens's aud Milligan and Bond's flour. They sold to bakers and storekeepers, aud did business with about 40 Invercurgill storekeepers. Some of the larger storekeepers bought in 30cwt lots. That quantity was sent to Invcreargill free of railage. Most of the storekeepers bought smaller lots. His firm purchased approximately 100 tons a month from the two firms mentioned. Outside Invcreargill they sold flour to a large number of country stores. Before Distributors, Ltd., began there had been no trouble iu getting flour from Stevens and Milligan and Bond, or in disposing of it. to customers. When Distributors, Ltd., commenced his firm was advised that its agency had ceased, and for three months they made no enquiry for these flours. Many of the small shops in town, however, requested them to stock flours as before, because Distributors, Ltd., had no depot in Invcreargill. Witness began by ordering direct from .Stevens, and got it for about six months. About July of last year they got a letter from Stevens telling them to order direct from Distributors, Ltd. Witness for some months made requests over the telephone to Mr Wish. Then Wish advised them that they could not get any northern flour. The reason given was that tho allotment for Southland was already sold. Wish said witness's firm could not get any flour, and that Distributors, Ltd., did not require its business. Witness offered to givo Wish a standing order, and later still he offered to pay railage. His firm got some of Stevens's flour. In August, 1920, Mr Kinger, of Distributors, Ltd., who was on a visit to Invcreargill, promised to do what he could to secure thorn a supply of flour for customers. Nobody connected with Distributors, Ltd., had suggested that the difficulty was that the northern flour did not exist.

John MaeGibbon Shanks, manager of MaeGibbon and Co., Ltd., retail storekeepers, East Gore, said his firm handled chiefly Milligan and Bond's flour. There was difficulty in getting this flour in October, and in' November, 1923, they were cut down on several occasions. He always communicated direct with Milligan and Bond. On one occasion an advice was sent to them by Distributors, Ltd., saying that flour fr»m Milligan and Bond was on its way. Mr Wish rang up to say they could not give it to him, but, next morning he rang to say he found ho could give it to them- The flour arrived all right.

To Mr Skcrrctt: He had been able to purchase the balance of Milligan and Bond's flour elsewhere when Distributors, Ltd., did not complete his order. He had kept a stock of Fleming's flour before Distributors, Ltd., started, and had had no difficulty with it in October and November of last vear.

James Brownlie, of the firm of J. Brownlie and Sons, storekeepers, Gore, gave similar evidence. Thomas Steven Searle, baker, Duuedin, said that, before Ltd., started lie ordered his flour straight from the mills and had no difficulty whatever except on one occasion. When Distributors, Ltd., started he rang up the mill as usual, but he was always

referred to Distributors, Ltd., so ho bowed to the inevitable and ordered \ through it. He thought the quality of the flour now was as good as before. A lot, of Crown flour he received in December, 1023, was an exceedingly low grade flour. One lot of 350 loaves made from it was unsaleable and had to be destroyed. They had lots of complaints about other batches from the same quarter. They lost some customers and some took less bread. His Honour: I do not see how you can blame the combination for one case of bad flour. Mr Adams: It depends partly on what other witnesses say about the same occasion. Mr Myers: We did not make Crown flour. His Honour: How is the combine responsible? Mr Adams: I recognise that I must carry this further before I can make any use of this. His Honour: I do not think it is any use labouring the point. Mr Adams: Had it not been, for this regulation of the market, Crown. flour would never have got into the market. William dimming Hendry, baker, South Dunedin, and Clifford Alexander Laurenson, partner in the firm cf J. J. Laurenson and Son, bakers and storekeepers, Eoslyn, deposed to the difficulty experienced in getting the brands of flour they required after the coming into being of Distributors, Ltd. At 5.30 p.m. the Court rose till 10 a.m. to-morrow.