BRITISH FLOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1930, Page 7

BRITISH FLOUR.

COMPULSORY USE. Snowden and Manufacture of Bread. MASTER BAKERS OPPOSE PLAN. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, April 7. Information has reached the master bakers that in connection with the Budget the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Snowden, is considering a scheme to provide for the compulsory use in bread of a stipulated percentage of flour made from British wheat, and for financial assistance to British wheatgrowers. It is understood that a compulsory sliding scale is to be fixed, ranging from 7% per cent to 20 per cent, according to the available supply of British, wheat. Anything like 20 per cent at present would be impossible. It is assumed that the sclieme involves the regulation of wheat imports, but as far as is known there is no intention to differentiate between flour from foreign countries and that from the overseas Empire. The master bakers oppose the scheme on the ground that it would prevent the purchase of flour for which the public has acquired a taste. The bakers throughout Britain are now using 20 to 30 per cent of strong Canadian flours blended in varying proportions with British,- Australian and Argentina flours. Now the bakers are considering forwarding a petition to Mr. Snowden urging the use of established brands of flour and blending them under a system which will enable proof to be given from their books that the requisite proportions are observed. Mr. Snowden's proposals are regarded as menacing, both to Canadian millers and Empire producers. The Canadian Government is reported to bv -eriously perturbed owing to the unsatisfactory state of the wheat market. The Canodian Minister of Trade and Commerce, Mr. James Malcolm, however, stated yesterday that Canadian wheat farmers had nothing to fear from the proposal of the British Chancellor of the Exchequer to compel British flourmillers to use up to 20 per cent of British-grown wheat. Canadian wheat, Mr. Malcolm eaid, never comprised more than 50 per rent of the flour used in the United Kingdom and Mr. Snowden's proposal should not prevent the use of the normal amount of Canadian wheat. BUDGET FEATURES. HIGHER SURTAX FORESEEN. LONDON, April 7. The "Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic correspondent forecasts the following Budget features:— Retention of the McKenna and silk duties, no increase in the standard rate of income tax, higher taxation on unearned incomes, an increased surtax which probably will begin with salaries of £1500, higher death duties, increased duties on beer, tobacco and petrol and taxation of land values.