NO INTERFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 174, 11 April 1923, Page 8

NO INTERFERENCE

WITH FLOUR, BRAN AND POLLARD PRICES AGREEMENT RATES TO STAND The Minister of Agriculture has announced that the Government does not intend to interfere with the flour, bran, and pollard prices recently agreed unon by the millers’ and farmers’ representatives.

“The Government has closely considered the agreement signed between millers’ and farmers’ representatives relative to wheat and flour prices, and has investigated the costs of production and distribution of flour and by-pro-ducts,” said Mr. Nosworthy to a Dominion representative yesterday. “It is considered that the collective prices of flour, bran, and pollard named, in tho agreement are- to a relatively small extent higher than is warranted by the agreed prices of Wheat and the probable average cost •if production and distribution during the current year. “If this margin of profit were so adjusted as to’ leave the prices no longer open to criticism, the decrease brought about would be much less than sufficient to enable any reduction to be made in the price of bread to the public.

■‘T n view of all the circumstances, and in consideration of the fact that later developments make it clear that any attempt to force a reduction in such prices would automatically void tlve agreement made between farmers and millers, and would inevitably result in a. “breaking” of the wheat market. with consequent disastrous results to the wheat-growing industry . The Government has decided, against any interference with the prices of flour, bran, and pollard, which form an essential part of the agreement above referred to.” ■