LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 299, 30 September 1939, Page 4

LOOKING BACK.

FIFTY YEARS SYNE. (From the “Guardian,” Sept. 30, 1S89) •Paris Exhibition. —Paris: The Exhibition Jurors havo made further awards as under:'ln forestry and agricultural products a grand prize to the New Zealand Government, in the fishing industry diplomas equal to grand prizes to both the Victorian Commission and the New Zealand Government. In the class for preserved meats, fish, vegetables and fruit, the awards are—gold medal to the Gear Meat Company, Wellington; silver medal to the Welington Meat Company; bronze medals to . the Colbeck Dejar Nursery Department, Auckland and iPatea Packing Companies. In the class for teaching of agriculture the Canterbury School was awarded a silver medal. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO <*■ (From the, “Guardian,” Sept. 30, 1914) Wheat’ and Flour.—The Food Commission’s decision with regard to tho maximum prices for wheat and flour has met with a very mixed reception mostly hostile, hut the chief objection is that is has come too late in the day to benefit the consumers. Judging by the statements made by local millers the position is a very serious one for them, and a deadlock seems inevitable. The Commonwealth’s, prohibition of the export df flour gave the millers an opportunity to increase the price, hut the farmers and others who held stocks also took advantage of the position to raise the price for the cereal, and those millers who were caught short of supplies have had to buy in a dear market. The result is that the consumers, for whose benefit the prices were fixed are, in a worse position than before. The price of bread has gone up, and now there is a possibility of a serious shortage in flour, * for the millers maintain that it will not pay them to continue manufacturing it.. It will be interesting to note how the Government is going to enforce the findings of the Commission, So far, the consumers are the chief sufferers, and the only hope they have of reaping any benefit is by the Government® adopting a: similar course to that taken by the New South Wales 'Government —commandeering the stocks of . wheat and selling it to the millers.