THE PRICE OF FLOUR.

Motueka Star, Volume III, Issue 142, 23 December 1902, Page 4

THE PRICE OF FLOUR.

The advance in flour and the consequent rise in the price of bread is being felt by the community, but there is this consolation—that present prices cannot be maintained very long. Were it not for the absolute monopoly possessed by the Millers’ Association there would have been no advance in flour, because there is no warrant for it. The Millers’ Association is in a strong position, the bakers are nearly all pledged to it, thus making it unprofitable to any one to import wheat except he be an independent miller with a large clientele. The principle of the “tied house” in the liquor traffic is now applied to the baking business, and the public suffer. Various calculations have been made of the probable requirements of the Australian colonies, and taking the most unfavourable view of the situation, it is estimated that the deficiency of 8,000,000 bushels, an equivalent to more than 4,000,000 bushels has already been ordered, and in addition to this there are stocks of flour on spot in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia equal to seveial months’ supply. It is very probable that Tasmania will have a small surplus of wheat, and there is also the surplus from New Zealand. Australia is importing wheat from California, Manitoba, and Argentine ; from the latter country three steamer cargoes of 1902 wheat have been bought, and one o( 2 the contracts is for Barletta wheat weighing 651 b to "the measured bushel, and another is for the same description weighing 631 b. The new Argentine wheat crop will not be available until January-Febru-ary, the latest advices indicate that a large exportable surplus will he available. Thus it is apparent that further supplies required by Australia can be readily obtained in the Argentine, and on more favourable terms than those now current.. The tendency of wheat will be downwards in the New Year, and prices locally must fall when the new crop comes in:—Post.