LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2278, 12 October 1914, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE PRICE OF FLOUR. Sir,—Mr. G. W. Russell asked tho Prime Minister last night if ho had made any further inquiries ••egarding the price of wheat and Hour, and whether the Prime Minister himself-had formed any distinct opinion as to tho desirability or otherwise of issuing a new proclamation. Mr. Massey replied he had been in communication ' with tho Chairman of tho Commission, who was now in Wellington, and t'ho Commission would hold sittings to-day or to-morrow at latest, and may tako further evidence- in Christchurch and some of tho other southern centres; ho also mentioned that the Government had confidence in the Commission-, etc. Tho Prime Minister etated he had made, inquiries from American merchants as to the price at which a minimum of 1000 tons and a maximum of 4000 tone of flour could be supplied, and had received a reply that day stating that tho C.I.F. price from Montreal was £15 16s. 2d. a ton, and tho Vancouver f.o.b. price £13 7s. 6d. a ton. He also pointed out that Australia was not likely to havo any wheat or flour to spare this season, and ho had been making every endeavour to encourage New Zealand farmers to grow more wheat; he also said that if we did not grow enough for ourselves flour would reach ' a higher price than had been experienced for twenty years, and the wheat he had purchased in Austialia would shortly bo very useful in supplying millers who were short of stocks. Now what is the position? Well, the Government appointed a Commission to inquire into the prices at which wheat and flour wero being sold with.power to fix prices. The farmers and millers wero the'first to be dealt withj all other suppliers of goods to the pubho were allowed to stand over \intil the farmers and millers were first penalised by reducing the then ruling prices of both wheat and flour and interfering with contracts that had already, been made on the basis of supply and demand, and thereby causing much unnecessary trouble, friction, and expense between buyer and seller. Had_ the Commission made themselves acquainted with' the price at which wheat and flour could have been procured and laid down from Australia, America and elsewhere as has since been done by tho Prime Minister, their verdict as regards selling prices in this Dominion would no doubt have been more favourable towards far-

mors and millers, who are endeavouring to make an honest livelihood in these callings throughout New Zealand. It is always a popular cry to penalise the farmer and the miller, not forgetting the baker, who are generally held up to tho poor working man as imposters. The high price of bread is always a good catch word. An average family will consume from six to nine 41b. loaves in a week, so that Id. a loaf rise would mean 9d. per week extra; this is considered a serious business for tho poor worker who commands votes, but tho same poor worker will have no scruple to go into a public-house- not once but several times during a week and cfuaff his glass or pot of beer, and perhaps shout for a friend besides; there are no complaints by the Commission over this phase of the workers' expenses; even a good Prohibitionist seldom complains of late years, as he knows it is not popular to suggest depriving a poor man of his beer. Publicans' and brewers' profits are, of course, fair and reasonable, but an. extra 10s. rise on a ton of flour or Id. a loaf rise in the price of bread, means exploiting the public. Farmers are expected to sell wheat, millers' flour, and bakers' broad all tho year round at tho same prices. Bad seasons, supply and demand must not be considered. Numbers of North Island peoplo, also West Coast miners aiid. sdwmillers, and , their representatives in Parliament, want tho 20s. a ton duty taken, off flour, but the same sawmillers want an extra duty, placed -upon any foreign tim-' ber brought into this Dominion. The- Prime Minister tells us that wheat cannot be landed duty paid from Australia for ss. a bushel in New Zealand; and the landed price of American flour is £15 16s. 2d. At the same time farmers are to bo compelled to sell their milling wheat in New "Zealand at 4s. 9d. f.0.b., and millers' flour £11 155., also f.o.b. in Canterbury and Oamaru only, and in the face of these facts Mr. Massey says he has been making every endeavour to encourage New Zealand farmers to grow wheat, and the Commission, who, in the first place, decided thai tho price of wheat should be fixed at ss. 3d., and flour at £13, afterwards changing their minds and altering the price to 4s. 9d. and £11 15s. respectively, are now asked to take further evidence in Christchurch nnd possibly in some of the other southern centres. Surely one would think the Commission and Parliament have sufficient evidence before them. The former have held many sittings, and secured all reasonable evidence, and this has been followed up by the deputation to the Prime Minister last Friday, but the farce must go on to the finish. Meanwhile mills are being shut down, in fact all dealings in grain and flour susponded pending the final decision of the Commission, I am, etc., , ONE INTERESTED. • [Oiir 'correspondent's contention? apparently is that because the war has created an exceptional demand for foodstuffs it is quite reasonable that ■ tho miller should be permitted to charge the publio extortionate prices for a necessary of life. The course pursued in Now Zealand has been to fix the price that is fair to everyone, and not to allow the public to be victimised in order that a few people make excessive profits. The course pursued in New Zealand is that which lias been followed in Australia and elsewhere, and is a necessary precaution.]