WHEAT AND FLOUR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2787, 3 June 1916, Page 6

WHEAT AND FLOUR

■IS BREAD' TOO DEAR?

Some remarks concerning the price of wheat and flour wero mado'in the House yesterday by tho Prime Minister. It had been asserted by Mr. Payne that bakers were keeping the price of bread as high as 91d. or lOd. per 41b. loaf, when farmers' were getting as little as 4s. per bushel for wheat.

Mr. Massey said that ho had first made inquiries regarding the price of bread in Wellington and had been informed that it was being.sold over the counter at Bd. per -ilb. loaf.. Of course, some peoplo insisted on having their bread delivered, and delivery, ho was informed, cost ljd- per loaf. He read a telegram that he had just received from Kopu, near Thame3, regarding tho visit of the Board of Trade to that district. The board had inquired into the prices of butter and bread yesterday, and as a result, tho telegram /stated, the price of bread had l»en that day reduced from lOd. to 9d.'per 4lb. loaf. ■Mr. Payne: There you are! It has been lOd. and is still 9d. there.

Mr. Massey said that it must be remembered that it cost something to get flour to tho Thames.

Mr. Poole made a reference to Auckland flour and the" price of it. Mr. Massey said that.'it-heat, for the manufacture of Auokland flour had to be brought from the south or from Australia. Ho had had an inquiry made regarding the price of flour in Wellington, and was informed that flour could now be obtained for 10s. iter ton, less 2} per cent, discount.

Mr. Poole: That is the price to bakers? Mr. Massey: To anybody, I presume.