THE PRICE OF FLOUR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 137, 11 June 1909, Page 3

THE PRICE OF FLOUR.

NOT RAISED. Tut telegeaph — press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, 10th June. The directors of tins New Zealand Flourmillers' Association met to-day in the morning and afternoon, but from information disclosed the business done was not of a sensational character. The chairman of the association (Mr. Hy. Wood), on being h&eu after the meeting, stated that the meeting had discussed things generally, but had not raised the pxice of flour. Asked if the question ot the dissolution of the association had been dealt with, he replied that the question would not be discussed for some time, the recent general meeting of shareholders having decided to continue the association. DUNEDIN", 10th June. In reply to a. statement, contained in an Auckland telegram, to the effect that a baker thero had never heard of flour being landed in Auckland at £10 0s 6d per ton, and that they had no cognisance of* any 2£ per cent, discount prevailing, a local miller said : "I have seen the Auckland wire, and those statements are simply absurd." He produced telegrams and letters. "1 quoted Auckland, you pce — 25 tons of flour landed on Auckland wharl at £10 15s. Now, if the Auckland price were £12 10s, would that not have been accepted ? But it was not. Here is the reply. Another firm quotes : '£10 10s e.i.f., Auckland. Can you reduce?' i didn't reduce. This £12 10s price is an old game, and has been foisted on the Auckland public for

ten years. Auckland millers keep tbe price high (nominally), and allow baker* high rebates, and the bakers charge tho public for its bread on a basis of nominal price — £12 10s. Every miller knows thesu facts, and it was a foolish thine; on the part of an Auckland miller to have published his price in the way ho did. A difference of 28s in the price ofi flour means a penny in the price of bread." Another miller placed further particulars and figir/.s at the reporter's disposal, and these showed that the price of £12 10s. was an utter quibble, and boyond reason. Ho produced from an Auckland merchant a letter which stated "that large quantities of flour -had been sold, and .tho writer offered to do business on a basis of SlO net, i'.o.b. Southern ports. ' This is below the association's tariff, by whi'h flour can be landed in Auckland at £10 15s ' per ton. "You will notice," said the miller, in conclusion, "that the Auckland wire evades the point at issue, which is tha price of flour in Auckland, and compares the price of wheat five or six weeks ago, before (.he i eduction took place in tha miller's pi ices. With the present prica of flouor, the position now is : Can Auckr land deny the awm-acy of our- figures? 7^