THE PRICE OF WHEAT, FLOUR AND BREAD.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18416, 24 June 1925, Page 6

THE PRICE OF WHEAT, FLOUR AND BREAD.

. TO HI EDITOI OJT "THE FSZSE." Sir, —111 tho columns of "The Press" it has been given out to the public that a satisfactory agreement has been arrived at and fixed prices have been stated for the purchase of the whole of tho wheat crop of 1924-25, and also that tho price of flour ajid .bread has been fixed to the consumer. I understand all parties concprned have agreed to carry out the terms of tho agreement, which has been confirmed by the Government. Now, -what I want to know is: Has the agreement any binding effect? If it has, why is it that somo millers are giving more than the fixed prices? I know tfro farmers who sold

their wheat recently, and they got one penny and twopence mure far their wheat (viz., Os lid and "s for Hunters'*, and it was consigned direct to the mil!. The millers have complained to the Minister that the farmers are not sticking ro the agreement. in that they arc not offering their wheat. but are holding for something to turn up after June 110 th. They may have grounds for their complaint, but why don't the millers net the example aud not break faith with their own <]njngs? It is the wheatgrower and the consumer that have reason to grumble. In the first place, what do we. find? Th«> miller puis up the price ill'" flour £'■'< a ton and !he 'Lakers of Canterbury add twopence To the loaf. The miller is paying 7 S luisliel for wheat threshed out, of the stook, bin immediately the grower starts to sell in quantities, down comes the price of wheat, viz., Cd a bushel, but the price of flour remains the Fame. £ ]<> a ton. Willi the lower offer for wheat, the grower refused to Fell, with the result the deadlock is solved by this above agreement, the tixing of prices nil round, and the small farmer who sold his wheat at Os -Id has to bear the loss and pay tho higher price for his bread. It is with the latter that the consumer is concerned, and I hear of many bakers who have not yet. reduced the price to their customers. I will state a case in my town, a town district 1- miles from a big provincial centre, and one of the best, wheat-growing centres. The two local Lakers are still charging Js id cash over the counter, which is Id over fixed prices, which are ruling in the provincial town. Xow, tho local bakers can well sell -bread at town price, and in doing so would find themselves iu a. better position than they were iu January last. The railage from the town to here is 3s 2d a ton, but, up to January last bread was always sold at the prices ruling in town, viz., Ild a loaf for cash. I will quote a. few figures to show that, a penny a loaf more than covers the rise in the prices for Hour. There is an average of at least 66 loaves to the sack of flour, ivhith, at a penny a loaf, works out at £2 los a ton. Now, the baker is paying £2 10s a. ton more for flour, less 2-i per cent., which puts him on tiie "safe" side. The local bakers are changing £5 10s more in charging the 2d. As the majority of the householders of this and surrounding districts are wheat-growers, they have room for complaint. What are the i-millcrs doing supplying bakers with flour who are setting their agreement at defiance? It is a breach of faith on the millers' part;, and a direct injustice to the consuming public.—Yours, etc., ASSISTANT WHEAT-GROWER.