THE PRICE OF BREAD

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 17, 20 January 1921, Page 7

THE PRICE OF BREAD

The price of bread is determined by the price of flour, the price of flour by the price of wheat. The Government txed the price of last season's New ealand wheat at from 7s 6d to Bs> according to description. It is understood that the new price will be equivalent of the price at which wheat can be imported, plus all charges including freight, from the point nearest to New Zealand. That, of couisk, is Australia. But- the price there is 10s 6d per bushel for export, to which would have to be a-dded Is 3d freight and charges. It is further reported that the duty on flour is to be raised from £1 per ton to £2 10s. This in order to prevent dumping cheap,, foreign flour into New Zealand. Quotation!! have already been received from Seattle and Tacoma, State of Washington,, and from San Francisco; and the firms quoting are keen for business. A duty of £2 10s per ton, however, would probably shut them out of this market. There has been a heavy fall in tha price of American wheat and flour.

Australian wheat has evidently fallen, 6d per bushel, as quotations for flour received this week showed a fall of 25s per ton on prices ruling last week. Latest mail quotations for Australian wheat for export to New . Zealand in January and February were 10s 6d, the duty on that would be about 5d per bushel.

■ Uppn the arrangements to be made between the Government and wheat farmers will depend the future price of the loaf of bread in New Zealand.