SCARCITY OF FLOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 233, 11 March 1915, Page 4

SCARCITY OF FLOUR.

ELTHAM BAKER UNABLE TO OBTAIN SUPPLIES.

ITlie statement has several times been made by the Prime Minister and Ministors of the Crown that flour can be obtained in the Dominion at £IG or £l6t 10s a ton. To test the accuracy of this statement an Eltham Argus reporter wailed on one of the local bakers yesterday morning, and what he! learned wa s not reassuring. "I cannot obtain any flour," said the provider of the staff of life, "and I am at a low ebb. I have wired all over the Dominion from Auckland to the Bluff, but in every instance I have received the same answer." The baker then produced a batch of telegrams—over a dozen in number-* from various firms ' in, the One telegram, from a •prominent Welling-, ton firm, read: "Cannot quote flour any' J prioe." Another from a large Dunediij concern seated there was "no flour available, try -—." Other telegrams came from Timaru, Napier and Wanganui.'

A DEPARTMENTAL STATEMENT.

! Not satisfied with his non-success, the Eltham man at once communicatee! with the Department of Agriculture at New Plymouth and Wanganui. From Wanganui he received the following res ply: "Regret no flour on hand." The Now Plymouth agent of the Department was more to the point. He wired, "We have no flour whatover."

[ And is your experience that of other tradesmen elsewhere in the Dominion?" asked the pressman. "X\ believe so," the baker replied. From what I learn there is a scarcity; of llomyfall over the Dominion. Then you wonder at the price of bread going l up." a °

Eventually the local tradesman obtained a limited supply'at £l9 per ton. ' ' Tt is understood that similar flour is of- t tamable in Hawera at £ls 1.5s per ton.