NEW ZEALAND WHEAT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 349, 7 February 1917, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND WHEAT.

STATEMENTS BY THE MINISTER Dunedin, Feb. 6. A deputation representing the millers in Dunedin and Southland had a hurried interview with the Hon. W D. S. MacDonald to-night regarding the price of wheat. In reply to questions the Minister said the price of sacks was fixed at Bd, payable by the' millers. The price of " wheat was fixed f.o.b. main ports, wheat being paid according to quality, to be ascertained- by the Government grader. The Government is not toinni md< i ring uhent The millers could buv in the usual wav- If the tanners refused to sell the Government would seize the viheat lim purchaser and seller is required to furnish a report of the qumtiti bought and sold and the purposi foi which it is bought or soul. Persons buving for speculation it« liable to aht pcnalti Some tanners had two vears’ wheat on hand, but thev will be eornnelled to selL

In regard to railage on necessarv wheat for miximr purposes m the south, the millers will be allowed Io charge an extra price on flour.

The import duty on Australian wheat was reinmosed this morning. The Minister said he had been informed it was impossible to land Austi 1’ an flour he r e for £l5 nut the deputation said it could be landed for £l4 10,-. Mi MacDonald If r ecessarc + he Government would increase the dutv arothci £1 The puce of br-’n vaa £6. pollard £4. The Minister said, according to figures obtained by the Government Statistician, there were 1,650 2 000 bushels of wheat in the Dominion, the bulk being probably held by speculators. Farmers held only 250,000 bushels. If anything like that was found to exist, the Govern, inent would seize the wheat. »