PRICE OF FLOUR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 January 1927, Page 5

PRICE OF FLOUR

MINISTER OPPOSED.

TO DUMPING DUTY IMPORTS PROM AUSTRALIA. 7 (II V TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 27. The Acting-j L-rime Minister (.the Hon. NY. JJownie Stewart) dealt to-day witli tne- question of imports oi flour and replied to t-be critics, particulaiiy those iu canterbury concerned for tne welfare ot the can tern ary wheatgrovvers •ir wheat is imported from Australia at a tower price tiian it was selling for in -Australia itself. Mr. Stewart said lie was fully alive to the difficulty, but he was hound to see that reasonable supplies of flour .or the Dominion’s requirements were available in New Zealand-up till the time the new crop was ready for milling. importations were absolutely essential to bridge the gap caused by the threatened serious suortage of flour. This shortage was known to some of nis critics. It was beyond all reason to suggest that by imposing extra duties he should check the necessary importations of flour and compel the public to pay a higher price -when insufficient supplies were on the local market and the new wheat crop was not ready for milling till near the end of February.

No Government could possibly justify making imports more difficult, and more costly while the New Zealand wheatgrowers’ crops were not ready. Importations of flour were not made or arranged lor iu excess of the country’s requirements.

The importations in sight,' plus local supplies, are sufficient, the Minister thinks, to fill the gap, but at the present stage it is not in the general interest to impose a dumping duty. What is proposed now is to admit without dumping duty lines of flour from Australia for which definite contracts have been made not later than January 27, 1927. Such contracts must have specified shipments by vessels sailing from Australia during January or February. 'Hie flour must reach New Zealand not later than the end of February. Flour which does not fulfil these conditions, will have to pay the assessed dumping duty. It is expected that as a result of this decision no more business will bee done between the New Zealand importers and Australian suppliers at what, can properly be regarded as dumping prices.

OBJECTION TO DUMPING DUTY

A NEW PLYMOUTH PROTEST.

The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce has forwarded the following telegram to the Acting Prime Minister, protesting against the imposition of a dumping duty on flour. ■ •‘ln reference to" the agitation of the South Island, who are sending a deputation to Wellington, submitting that dumping duty be imposed on Australian flour, this chamber -strongly protests against any such imposition. The Adelaide market has no bearing onMelbourne, as the freight is higher. The bulk of orders are shipped from Melbourne and Sydney. Invoices on the Waipori, due to arrive on January 13 from Melbourne, give home consumption values at £l2 12s 6dy f.o.b £ll 17s Gd. On the Koromiko, due from Sydney on January . 25, they give values for -home consumption at £ll 12s 6d, f.ob. the same. The differences in Melbourne are accounted for by delivery charges within a 20 mile radius, anil the extensive credit- given. So this-latter is verified.”