BAKERS PROTEST

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1931, Page 4

BAKERS PROTEST

AT HIGH FLOUR DUTY. (By Telegraph —Per Press A ssociution) WELLINGTON, August 30. Mr H, P. Burton, President of the New Zealand Master Bakers’ Federation, in a statement, explains that while upholding the principle that there should be some lorm of protection' for the wheat growers, the bakers insist that there slfbuld be a return to the old fixCd “protective duty on Hour of £3 a ton. When the sliding scale was first introduced, however, it was never anticipated, by its sponsors that the present wide discrepancy between New Zealand and Australian prices for wheat and flour would obtain.

Mr Burton says; To-day flour may be bought in Australia as follows:—Melbourne £5 10s f.o.b. per ton; Sydney £7 10s f.o.b. per ton. If the freight and incidental charges, including cartage at this end, he added, this flour can he landed and placed in the factory for Auckland or Wellington bakers at approximately: From Sydney £9 per ton* and from Melbourne £7 10s per ton, as against the Auckland price of £lB ,7s (3d a toil, less 2| per cent. for. New Zeaifthd flolii 1 . lii view of these figures, therefore, it is obvious that the wheat growers of New Zealand ate enjoying it protection out of all proportion to equity and public consideration.