BRITISH WHEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1930, Page 2

BRITISH WHEAT

USE TO BE COMPULSORY

[United Press Association—By Eiectrii Telegraph—Copynghi.J

LONDON, April 6

Information has reached the Mustei Bakers that Air Philip Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer) in connection with the Budget is considering i. scheme providing for the com pul.son use of a stipulated percentage of floui made from British wheat in bread, and that this is to be accompanied b,\ financial assistance for British when growing.

It is uiulerstod that a compulsory sliding scale will he provided foi ranging from seven and a-half per cent, .to twenty, per cent., according to the available supply of British wheat. Anything like twenty per cent, would at present he impossible. It is assumed that the scheme involves the regulation of Britain’s imports, but, us far as is known, there is no intention to differentiate as between foreign and Overseas Empire flour.

The Master. Bakers oppose the scheme on the ground of its preventing their purchase of flour for which the public have acquired a taste. The bakers throughout Britain are now. using from to 30 per cent, of strong Canadian Hour's, blended witli varying proportions o! British, Australian and Argentine flours.' They are considering i..e sending of ft'petition to Mr Snowden, urging the use of established brand's for blending, under a system enabling proof to be had from the books that requisite proportions are observed.

Air Snowden's proposals are regarded as menacing both the Canadian millers and Empire producers.

The Canadian Government are reportedly to be seriously perturbed’ at the proposals owing to the unsatisfactory state of the wheat market.

NO AIEXACE TO CANADA

OTTAWA, April 7. , ■ The Minister of Trade and Commerce, A'fr Malcolm, stated that ' the Canadian wheat, farmer had nothing to fear from the proposal of the British Chancellor of the Exchequer to compel the British millers to use up to twenty per. cent ,of English wheat. The Canadian wheat Mr Mai olm said, never .'comprised. .more than fifty per cent of 'the .flour used in the United Kingdom', and. Air Snowden’s proposal should' riot prevent the use of the normal amount- of .Canadian wheat.