THE FARMERS V. MILLERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2464, 26 April 1888, Page 2

THE FARMERS V. MILLERS.

TO THK EIHTOII. Sin.—From your last Saturday's issue I glean that the Auckland millers, who announced their coming to the Waikato to buy wheat, with a flourish of trumpets, have been, and returned, after having bought a very little, and found fault with nearly the whole of the samples offered to thorn. The fanners have clearly been humbugged, and my advice to them is Bestir yourselves at once, make a stand against the importation of Southern and Auckland flour. You have been invittfd to prow spring wheat in large quantities; you have done so, but alas your wheat has endless faults, as the Auckland millers say it is too soft, too thin, dark in colour and void of quality. The people of Waikato may not be aware of it, but the fact nevertheless remains, that the greater pait of the flour they consume is imported from the South Island, either in the shapo of wheat that is ground in Auckland 01 by direct importation from Canterbury and ether southern towns. The weekly consumption of flour in the Waikato is between 50 and (10 tons, of which about two.thirds comes into the district from the seaport. Is this fair to the farmers? I think not. There is sufficient mill power in the Waikato to make all the flour that is consumed in the district, if the inhabitants would hang together and say, " we will not buy either flour or broad made from wheat not produced in the district, unless the price charged be greater than it can be imported for." There is a market at their own doors for at least 30,000 sacks this season, and if they would adopt the method I suggest it would pay the local millers to give the farmers a bigger price than the Auckland firms could afford to offer them. lam aware the cry is " we must have very white flour," but the people seem entirely to overlook the flavour and nourishing properties of Waikato wheats, which by far cxceed the Southern, although it has a yellow wholesome colour, and not a chalky white appearance, with little more flavour than boiled rice. Perhaps some of your readers may wish to know why I should interfere with this subject, for I am neither a farmer nor a miller at the present time ; but having—in the Old Country—been reared 011 a farm, and afterwards had the control of two mills running 23 pairs of stones, I naturally think I -may be competent to give an opinion on it. I am also a believer in supporting local industries, and would strongly advise Waikato residents to support their local millers. The Waikato wheats are very difficult to grind, indeed the home millers would refuse to use it by itself; but there are mills in the Waikato at which it alone is used, and a very good article is turned out. It may not be quite so white as the Auckland, but I am sure it is quite as—if not more —wholesome, and will make a larger loaf.—l am, etc., AN OLD Counthv MILLEU. Cambridge, 23rd April 1888.