WHEAT AND FLOUR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 55, 21 October 1914, Page 6

WHEAT AND FLOUR.

STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE. £Fu jPxbu Association i Wellington, October 20. A Gazette Extraordinary issued today contains an Order-in-Council, fixing the maximum price of wheat at 5s 3d per bushel, and of flour at £l3 per ton. In the House of Representatives the Premier made a statement as to the prices of wheat and flour in the Dominion. He said the chairman of the Commission had V reported that there would bo a shortage of wheat in the Dominion. It was difficult to say just what the shortage would be where wheat was in many hands. In view of the fact he Had communicated -with Australia, and asked if we could be supplied with at least a quarter of a million bushels, even if only by way of a loan till next season. He had not yet received a reply. He had also communicated with Canada and America, but had oidy received a quotation for flour. If we had to import foodstuffs it would be better to import •wheat, so that we could keep the mills going, and so prevent unemployment. He was asking applications from those millers who were short of supplies, and so far had received 21, but the quantity asked for was six times in ex- ! cess of the quantity available from Australia. This wheat would be given out to those small millers most urgently in need of it. He had learned that no North Island farmers were holding wheat, and only about a hundred in the South Island. This would, probably be available between now and Christmas. Speaking on the market price of wheat, he said that flour wheat was being sold in Wellington to-day at Gs per bushel, and maize at 5s 9d. He then proceeded to say that the chairman of the Commission had reported to him since the meeting in Wellington a week ago that in fixing the price of flour at £ll 15s per ton they had not fully considered the position of the seller, and were now of opinion that the Order-in-Council fixing that as the price should he revoked. The Commission was not able to agree as to what the price should he, and wore therefore not able to make any recommendation. The Government had therefore decided to go back to the original decision of the Commission, and fix the price of wheat at 5s 3d a bushel and flour at £l3 per ton. Mr Witty asked why the Government

had failed to grapple with the shortage of wheat. In reply, Mr Massey said the Government had successfully grappled with the wheat supply. Ho repeated that there would be a shortage of 12,000 tons of flour, or the equivalent in wheat, between now and February. He accused Mr Witty of raising ibo question for party purposes. He honestly believed that Mr Witty did not care if the people of the Dominion were starving, so long as he could serve party interest. No Government in the British Dominions had had so many difficulties to meet as his Government, but it had met them all successfully. If private people would import the 12,000 tons required, the Government would remit the duty. If private persons would not import, the Government was prepared to do so.