IMPORTATION OF WHEAT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27410, 24 July 1954, Page 8

IMPORTATION OF WHEAT

Bakers Urge Change LICENCES FOR MILLERS SUGGESTED With a view-to improving the baking quality of flour, the council of the New Zealand Federation of Bakers and Pastrycooks has recommended to the Prime Minister (Mr Holland), the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr J. T. Watts), and the general manager of the Wheat Committee (Mr R. McPherson) that consideration should be given to granting millers licences for the importation of Australian and Canadian wheat, instead of having their requirements supplied through the Wheat Committee. The council has also asked the Government to consider immediately the encouragement of further milling capacity in the North Island. As an alternative the council has recommended the Government to appoint some qualified independent party in Australia or Canada 4o submit reports on the baking quality of wheat before it is purchased. The council’s suggestions have been sent to both Mr Holland and Mr Watts, according “to a statement issued by the council yesterday, and replies have been deceived that the matters are being investigated. In making these recommendations the council was confident that the Government would appreciate receiving any recommendations that would contribute to the improvement of flour quality, which in turn would bring about better bread, said the statement. It was in this spirit that the recommendations were made. Millers* Views “I would say that bakers and millers work on a friendly basis, and we hesitate to oppose any worth-while suggestion put up by the bakers,’’ said Mr R. J. Lyon, chairman of the Wheat Research Committee and a miller, when he was asked to comment on the baking industry statement. “I can only say that the framers of that resolution do not understand the conditions under which wheat is sold by Australia and Canada.

“For instance, there is only one seller of Australian wheat—that is the Australian Wheat Board. In addition there is only one grade of wheat sold in Australia—the f.a.q. standard Therefore it would be impossible for an individual firm to purchase in that country. The business is as between government and government. It is not possible for any buyers to purchase specific lines of wheat. All buyers must buy on the basis of an f.a.q. certificate.

“Apart from that, the wheat, flour and baking industry is a highly subsidised one m New Zealand, and alteration in the way suggested would involve tremendous reorganisation of finance and shipping, etc.,’’ Mr Lyon said. “The present method of securing our supplies has been in operation tor some years, and Australian authorities, in my opinion, have treated New Zealand in as satisfactory a manner as possible. As millers we consider that the quality of the Australian wheat we are getting is satisfactory, and it is very doubtful whether any improvement whatever would take place if individual buying came into force.

“In my opinion what the bakers should aim at is an increase in the area of wheat grown in New Zealand, as that would, we believe, effect a considerable improvement in the general quality of flour and consequently of bread.” he concluded. “As far as I know the views expressed by Mr Lyon are shared by the other flour millers in New Zealand, and I agree 100 per cent, with them.” said Mr H. Worrall, chairman of the New Zealand Flour Millers’ Society, when the bakers’ statement was referred to him.

Referring to the suggestion that the Government should consider immediately the encouragement of further milling capacity in the North Island. Mr Worrall said the Wheat Committee had already taken steps to get a greater allocation of flour manufar tured in the North Island. Seven thousand or 8000 more tons would be made this year than were made last year.