WHEAT AND FLOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1938, Page 15

WHEAT AND FLOUR

PRICE FIXATION

AUSTRALIAN INTEREST

An arrival by the Wanganella this morning was Mr. John Spence, Audi-tor-General of New South Wales, who is visiting Wellington at the request of his Government for the purpose of acquainting himself, at first hand, with the legislative machinery and organisation in New Zealand for fixing prices. He is accompanied by Mrs. Spence and by Mr. P. J. Dunworth, a senior member of his staff, who has been investigating the price of bread in New South Wales and its relation to the price of flour.

Mr. Spence said that he was particularly interested in the New Zealand system of price fixation with regard to wheat, bread, and flour. He was unable to speak for his Government in the matter, but he understood that the possibility of adopting a fixed price for wheat in the Commonwealth was under consideration and that the data he secured on his visit would be used m connection with this scheme. According to newspaper reports the question had been one of the matters discussed at the recent conference of Australian Premiers. So far as he knew the Government of New South Wales was not concerned with price fixation outside the commodities mentioned. They were not considering a guaranteed price but a fixed price, which was a different thing. Mr and Mrs. Spence expect to be in the Dominion for about three weeks.