PRICES OF WHEAT AND FLOUR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2446, 15 March 1888, Page 2

PRICES OF WHEAT AND FLOUR.

cs> " A Grower" writes to the Herald as follows ou the above subjectA newspaper can hardly be take:' up without seeing articles urging the occupation of the country lands for the purpose of fanning; but as all those so doing are avowedly losing money it is hardly to be wondered that the recommedatiou falls flat. The prices for years past have been under-paying, either for cattle or grain ; but this year, in grain, it never was so low, while the price of flour is out of all proportion, showing that in this, as in all other farm produce, it is the middleman who takes all the profit; the fanner puts tip with the loss while the consumer is charged an exorbitant price. Mr. Firth and other millers are offering 3s Id per bushel for Auckland grown wheat. Millers are selling fowl wheat at 3s, and this is the offal, which is not fit to make flour of, or only penny less than they give for prime sample. For the best roller flour their price is £11 5s per ton {vide Auckland Hkiuu), March 9). The Adelaide price for best roller flour is £S 1-J3, and their price for wheat is 3s 3d ; in other words paying 2d per bushel more for wheat, the Adelaide millers are selling their flour at £2 10 less than the Auckland millers ! Is it any wonder that farming docs not pay in Auekliind? How can it, when the millers take all the profit ? With wheat at 3s Id, flour can be sold at an excellent profit at £8 ; the Auckland public are paying £3 5s per ton above its value. There was a great deal of gush in advising the farmers to grow wheat for Auckland consumption, and this is the miserable result— 3i Id per bushel. Adelaide wheat cannot be imported for less than 3s 7s Canterbury for less than 3s 4d, and why Auckland wheat, which is admittedly Gd per bushel better than Canterbury, should be 3d nominally, and Od really, loss, can only be caused by a combination among the miller?, The farmers are naturally very sore at this ; and some are proposing to mill their wheat, have it in suitable bags, and fill the stores and auction rooms, they would thus realise considerably better prices, besides opposing combination. With the prospect next year of the Hessian fly. and not a fair price obtainable, there is likely to be a very small breadth of land in wheat, and then there, will be the usual cry of want of enterprise among farmers.

It is said that at Melbourne the other day as a fashionably-drcssed girl was standing around in tiic costume department of a Collin-street draper's shop, a shop walker anxious to make more room put his arm round her waist and proceeded to haul her to one side. A sharp, shrill, and indignant feminine shriek startled the souless man of calico, who discovered that he had mistaken a Melbourne belle for one of the lay figures which arc plentiful and life-like in that department. His explanations and apologies were sweetly entertained. For is it not the gaol of every woman's ambition to bo a si./iilt' of the draper's wooden model? The programme of the Tauwhare annual sports appear in another column. Mr W. Howie, of Cambridge, has filed a petition of bankruptcy, Mr It, Kdward's house, with land, is for immediate sale, and offers a pood opportunity for an investor at a bargain. lhe cwcastlo lioad Hoard call for tenders for various works. The time-table of tho excursion trains 011 Saturday appears in this issue and will be found convenient for visitors to the Horticultural .Show and the. races. The Xgaruawaliia Jockey Club have substituted a Selling .Hack Race of Bsovs in place of Xo. I previously on the programme. The date of acceptances is altered to L'7tli insi, It y"U have a w.itch tint should k-vi> good time, but does not, then why suffer annoyance, when by giving it to S. McLernon, practical watchmaker, Ilamif ton, you can have, for a reasonable charge, the defect remedied. This he guarantees every time! lAovx,