WHEAT AND FLOUR

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 6 September 1917, Page 6

WHEAT AND FLOUR

THE POOLING QUESTION GISBORNE. Sept 4. , The question put by Mr Witty, M.P. an the House to-day, as to whether the Government would distribute the wheat stocks held by millers, so as -to keep all mills going, was referred to the Hon. MacDonald to-night. He said that when the Government fixed the price for wheat many large millers purchased a full supply to last till about November next. Some of the smaller millers who held back, nowtad insufficient stock to carry on. To distribute wheat among mills -would mean onchancing the value, which would reflect itself on bread and cause an increase in prices. He was therefore reluctant to instruct the Board of Trade to take wheat from mills with large stocks and hand it over to millers who missed the opportunity to provide sufficient stocks for their own requirements. However, the Board of Trade -would make full enquiries, and if necessary, would adjust matters. Mr MafcDonald added that considerable flour had arrived from Tasmania, and also a small quantity from Sydney, and there need be no alarm as far as consumers were concerned, as there was ample wheat and four in the Dominion to supply all requirements for three cr four months, and long before that he hoped to get the wheat purchased in Australia, which would be fairly and equally distributed throughout the various districts of the Dominion. Mr. MacDonald stated that he was in communication with Australia as late as Saturday, and learned that there was little probability of wheat shipments for some time.