THE PRICE OF THE LOAF

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17206, 28 June 1916, Page 7

THE PRICE OF THE LOAF

BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRIES. RECOMMENDED PRICES. SUGGESTED TABLE OF RATES. [From Om Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, June 27. An interim report of the Board of Trade was tabled by tho Prime Minister to-day on the subject of the prices of wheat, bran, pollard, flour and bread for two years prior to the outbreak of war, subsequent fluctuations of prices, reasons for fluctuations, present prices and reasonableness of present prices. The board, after discussing the situation at length, urges that the situation regarding prices of flour and by-pro-ducts of wiieait should be closely and continuously watched with the aid of returns, which should be periodically furnished. The board recommends, therefore, that it should bo enacted that millers and recognised dealers in grain should be registered with the Board of Trade and furnish from week to week statements of quantities of wheat purchased and prices paid, aud on the information collected the Board should publish a weekly official quotation of actual market prices. Tho board points out that at present the leading newspapers publish weekly market quotations amd that the Board is in possession of evidence that the publication of unreliable information by speculators has, on occasions, artificially raised the price of wheat to genuine dealers and detrimentally affected the industry generally. The Board further recommends that threshing mill proprietors should be also required to register and supply weekly returns of grain threshed. On the question of fixing prices, after considering whether the fixing of maximum prices by enactment for wheat, flour and bread, or the method of “ recommended prices” adopted in England would be best suited to conditions in New Zealand, the Board prefers tho latter method and suggests the following table of recommended prices, subject to alteration by the Board as may bo required by changing conditions: — Wheat delivered Flour, Bread, cash

The Board adds:—“We recommend that the relative over-tlio-eountcr price bo made comp llsory and that it be in accordance with the above table and at least ljd loss than the price for delivery. This provision should apply to the four main centres and secondary towns.” .... In tho course of an appendix dealing with subsequent investigations at Auckland, Pukekolie, Thames and Hamilton the Board points out that automatic baking is more fully developed in Auckland than in Christchurch or Timaru, and it is convinced that automatic bakeries, such as at Auckland, if run at full timo, would enable a reduction to be made in the price of bread: The price of flour manufactured in Auckland province is fixed in keen competition with flour from southern mills, and consequently nothing in the naturo of a ring or combine exists. The Board expresses the opinion that as the price of flour is now considerably lower than it was from February to September, 1915, a drop in the price of bread should follow in towns outside Auckland. In fact the same price should be charged in country districts as in the city, as cheaper rents, horse feed, etc., counterbalance railway freights on flour.

at mill. f.o.b. over counter. s. d. s. d £ sd at 3 9 9 10 6 „ 3 9 to 4 0 10 0 0 „ 4 0 to 4 3 10 10 (5 „ 4 3 to 4 6 10 5 6i „ 4 6 to 4 9 11 15 61 „ 4 9 to 5 0 12 5 61 „ 5 0 to 5 3 13 0 7