AUSTRALIAN FLOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15716, 17 September 1914, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN FLOUR.

PROHIBITION ON EXPORT

EFFECTS ON NEW ZEALAND

ATTEMPT TO MODIFY EMBARGO

(BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. J

Wellington . Wed nesday. The prohibition on the export of bread stuffs from Australia and its possible effects on the supply of foodstuffs lor New Zealand were mentioned in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr. E. Newman said he was advised that a larp' numbei of bakers in New Zealand had contract* running until the end of this year with Australian millers, and that if these, con tracts were carried out there would be no rise in the price of flour, but if the prohibition imposed by the Common wealth Government upon the export of flour was insisted upon and these contracts were determined, there would be a rise in the price of bread. He. urged the Prime Minister to use all the influtnee he possessed to have the prohibition of the export of flour to New Zealand from Australia removed.

Mr. Massey said he had been in com munication with the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth with regard to the removal of the prohibition of the, export of flour to New Zealand, but he was sorry to say that the reply lie. had received had not been at all favourable. He was, however, communicating again with the Australian Prime Minister and His Excel lency was communicating with the Gover nor-General of the Commonwealth. He. Mr. Massey, had asked the Australian Government if they could not remove the prohibition altogether, to remove it s, far as existing contracts were concerned, and to this request he hoped to receive an affirmative reply. He understood that the- difficulty was not so much mi account of the war as on account of the <lrough', in the wheel district! making it possible that nest season's cropswould be a, total failure. Ho was very glad to see that rain had fallen and this might affect the position. Tin's had on couraged him to send a further communi cation to the Government of Australia. As soon as he had received a reply he would make a public announcement.

REASON FOR ACTION

FEARS FOR THE CROP.

[BY TELEGRAPH--SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington", Wednesday.

Light was shed upon the reason for the j Commonwealth Government prohibiting I the export of flour by a letter received from a Melbourne firm yesterday. Thin letter, which was addressed to a local flour merchant, says : " Our Government have now prohibited the export of wheat and flour encept to the United Kingdom. which we think will include New Zealand and other British possessions. All th( j shipments for the East are now blocked. I The whole position is becoming very serious, as the weather conditions are ex eeedingly bad. We are having hot, dry winds and no rain, and it is difficult to say what will happen to our crop. We may have to import wheat ourselves if this goes on much longer." Since this letter was written (September 8) rain has fallen all over the wheat States with a very beneficial effect. The Manuka, which arrived from Sydney yesterday, brought 468 sacks of Australian flour.