PRICE OF FEOUR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2255, 15 September 1914, Page 4

PRICE OF FEOUR

AND THE AUSTRALIAN, BLOCKADE, Consequent upon the unsettling cable ( messages received in Wellington (in Saturday announcing the prohibition on the export of flour from Australia,. Messrs. H. Baldwin and Hall, of Wei-' lingtony waited on the Prime Minister to explain the grave oonsequences _ of such a prohibition being carried into effect, not so much on the merchants, dealing in the flour, but upon, the people of the Dominion, for' such a large, steady supply of flour cannot be cut off suddenly without leaving' a eerious shortage somewhere with a consequent enhancement of the price.' After laying the caeo before the Prime Minister the latter said lie was of opinion that possibly a mistake had been made, and the prohibition was not meant to extend: to New Zealand.' He promised to make' full inquiry into the matter. Immediately atter the interview a cable mos*. sage, was dispatched to Messrs. Minifie' and Co., the big flour-millers of -Meli : bourne as follows:—"Understand rtw strictions do not refer to New Zea-i land." The reply received yesterday; state export New Zealand prohibited." With regard to the above matter Mr< H. Baldwin, of Baldwin and Co., said that local millers were, totally unable to make up the 'shortage. Hβ had re* oeived quotations, but. on sending an order had been informed that the mills telegraphed to were unable to'supply. "It simply means,"/ said Mr. Baldwin , in conclusion,' "that if the prohibition holds local flour will advance quite another £2 per ton. It now stands .at £13, f.0.b., in the south."