THE BREAD WE EAT.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 62, 13 March 1924, Page 4

THE BREAD WE EAT.

WILL IT BE DEARER? EFFECT OF NEW POLICY. FLOUR MILLERS' OPINION. (By Telegraph.— Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day ' Regarding the arrangements for wheat prices announced by the Minister of for D H. Brown and Sons, flour mfflg, stated to-day that, as far as the rnilU are concerned, the arrangements will make no difference. "The fixed prices will make business safe,' said Mr. Worrall, "although they do not offer so many opportunities for making money. The increase of 10/ on the duty on flour will not keep out the Australian product. The very fact of Australian flour cominig into the country will possibly reduce the price of bread, but at the same time it will increase the price of offals such as bran and pollard, thus the consumer will be no better off. "It seems," added Mr. Worrall, "that the Government is committed to a policy of protection. Taking for example the boot industry, which is not an essential industry, the Government has not protected the wheat industry nearly as much as it has the hoot industry, and yet there is no comparison between the tv> industries." Mr. Worrall added that he thought .t was a bad policy to rely on outside sources for the bread supply of the country. "In New Zealand there are approximately 250,000 acres of wheat country." he said, "and this produces flour to the value of £2.000.000 annually. If snffi- | cient duty is not put on to protect the j growers the land will be used for other 1 purposes. There is not a great lot of j wheat country suitable for dairying, and j most of it will be converted to sheep raising. The average return from sheep is £4 an acre, and New Zealand wool and mutton exports amount to about f 1.000,000 annually. It will be seen that £2,000,000 worth 'of wheat will have to be imported, and the sheep exports will only result in £1.000.000 coming in, which will be bad business. "I think that the wheat industry should be protected to the limit," continued Mr. Worrall." as a sufficient supply of bread should be ensured. The ifovernment Ehould have a certain amount of control over the priv; of wheat and sh—'' exercise it."