PRICES OF WHEAT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3387, 16 January 1920, Page 3

PRICES OF WHEAT.

A PROBLELI FOR THE GCYVISR-N----LIENT.

The Prime Minister is going to Christchurch on Fr‘ida,‘y ti discuss with I'epresenvtutivcs of the wheat grOWOI'S the price of wheat, and the basis on Will-ch Wheat may be produced next season. As is well known, the Government has been paying '3 heavy subsidy to millers ‘to enable them tto buy wl1e:1t at the controlled price of some Gs (id per bilshel, and to sell flour to the bakers :at £ls 3. ton. If thris policy is to be purseud in the future, then it may be that the Govermnent will have to increase the subsidyconsiderably. The alfCl'n’.El’[iVC seems to be a. huge increase in the price of bread. In assessing the value of wheat grown in New Zeelniid, it is common to [ix it at thhe cost of bringing Australian wheat to this, country. Before the war, or rather before the Government. bought Australian wheat, New Zealand was protected by a duty, but of course the Government does not pay duty, and tthis protection does not operate. The Australian export price has been increased to: SS 11.~d per bushel, and that wheat could probably not be landed in this country at less than 8s 9d per bushel. That is the problem as it presents itself to "the Government, and it ‘does noe look an easy one. i p