THE FLOURMILLERS' ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12909, 4 July 1905, Page 6

THE FLOURMILLERS' ASSOCIATION.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.]

Dunedin, Monday. There is fresh trouble among the flourmillers. For some time past the association has found a difficulty in disposing of the outputs of a number of the small mills. South Island bakers are, for the most part, wedded to favourite brands of flour, and the policy pursued by the association has been to ship the less popular brands to the North Island. There they encountered the-increas-ing competition of Auckland flour and consequently stocks accumulated and sales became difficult to effect. Special negotiations with the Auckland flourmillers failed to bring about a working arrangement, and the position has been accentuated by the recent decision in the case of Harraway v. the Fourmillers' Association, under which smaller millers gain considerable advantage. Some of the leading milling firms with large capital invested in their business have long been fretting under an arrangement by which the association makes a-market for the small mills, although at the same time seriously reducing the output of the large mills, and there is growing dissatisfaction in milling circles. It is reported that the last meeting of the association was of a stormy character, and it is expected that two leading Timavu millers will 'sever their connection with the association. These millers are not shareholders, but have come in under special agreement. A meeting was to be held in Timaru to-night to disouss the question, and the outcome is eagerly awaited in the trade, -