WHEAT & FLOUR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2305, 12 November 1914, Page 7

WHEAT & FLOUR

STATEMENT BY TEE PRIME '■•"■. ' MINISTER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) , Pukekohs, November 111 The price of .wheat and flour was referred to by the Prime Minister in his speech at Pukekohe this' evening. -A gentleman in Auckland_ whose political record did not entitle him to be spoken "of. as more than an. ordinary politician' had, Mr. Massey went on to say, assorted that there was no occasion for the recent rise in the price of wheat./ Mr.''Massey said, however, that .he could tell them that they were face to face with a shortage, and under such circumstances the price of wheat in New Zealand must be''as nearly as possible the price for wkicli it could be imported. He would endeavour to induce the fanners to grow more wheat, and unless they did this both.wheat and flour wouldrise to'famiuo prices.,. , '.- Mr. Massey went on to say that since arriving at Puirekohe that evening he had received the .following telegram from the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce:—"There is practically ho wheat on hand here now. The Gore mill has been shut down.; Tho Invercargill mill is awaiting Australian supplies as promised, otherwise it would be probably closed also. The position is quite serious in this district." ,"'".'

Mr. Massey said tho position' was serious. The Government'was doing its best to meet the shortage, and had offered every induceniont to merchants, millers, and bakers to import wheat. Tho Government-was.'getting 250,000 bushels of wheat from Canada ;and he was daily expecting to conclude a purchase in India.

Continuing, Mr. Massey said that a member of Parliament recently stated iu the Hou6e that he had'been informed in' Auckland that thero was more wheat in tho country than was needed for requirements, and that a certain miller in Auckland actually had wheat to sell. Ho (Mr. Massey) had replied that if tins, were so ho was prepared to buy tile wheat at a good price. When the report of the member's statement was published the miller referred to telegraphed to him (Mr. Massoy) stating that it, wns. quite evident that somebody had been "pulling the member's: leg.". (Laughter.) Mr; Massey that two millers in the Auckland district had ' applied to him for wheat. In ono case it was stated that if the wheat was not obtained ninety men would be thrown out of employment. There were 20 or 25 millers in New Zealand who had had to apply to the Government for wheat.