THE PRICE OF FLOUR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3160, 11 August 1917, Page 7

THE PRICE OF FLOUR

MILLERS FEELING STRESS OF COMPETITION THE AUSTRALIAN SHIPMENT .*■ question about the price of flour ■ *as_asked in tho House yesterday by Mr. •?•- ?, onle -' A few diys "go it was reported that the South Island Jlourniillera Wre feehn ? the competition tf cheap Australian flour so severely that they were in danger of being forced out of ■ business. Mr. Poole said that he had received a telegram from an Auckland baker to say that no cheim Australian flour was reaching Auckland. On the ■' contrary, Australian flour cost J;l 10s. per ton more than New Zealand flour, and the Australian flour was required for ■fflixing with the local flour in order to make the best bread. ' The Prime Minister said he thought members of the House would understand the position. Early in the year the Statistician reported to the Government that there was not sufficient' wheat in New Zealand to suffice for"the population until next harvest. With this information, Ministers considered it to be the diity of the' Government' to buy a 'quantity of wheat in Australia.' Portion of this wheat had already been sold to millers in different parts of New Zealand. Within the last fotir weeks, however, the millers in the South Island had com. plained :that they were suffering from severe competition .on account cf tho very large quantities of Australian flour that was being' ■ landed in southern ports, and they asked the Government to reduce nfe price • of tho Australian wheat supplied to them by tho Government.. They said that if "this wtre not done they would ba compelled to close their mills. As a matter of fact, within the last two or three days information had come to him that two or three mills in Canterbury- had closed down. Inquiries had been made regarding , the matter, and ' .it would /come before Cabinet during the week-end. He could not say what Cabinet would do. He had his own opinion, and he would make a •recommendation to Cabinet. One state, meat made in the telegram eeenied to him to be incorrect. This wOs the statement that New Zealand wheat was eoft and unsuitable for the manufacture of good flour. Unless it was softer than usual- 1 —• - - , .- . : Mr; Witty: It is : harder than usual owing to the dry season. : Mr. Massey: If it is as hard as usual I don't think there is any. necessity for mixing it with Australian wheat in order to make the - host flour. I have known the best bread it is possible to make -to be made from flour ground from New Zealand .wheat. I know it "is usual to mix Australian, wheat with'our own-wheat* and this .for a number of reasons. ' ' , Mr. Witty: Is anything more being done about the wheat held by the farmers in New-Zealand? . Mr. Ha6sey said he, was not awaro that anything was being, done. - Mr. -Witty: Something ought to be done. • ■ . x .