STILL CHAMPION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15830, 29 January 1915, Page 4

STILL CHAMPION.

Auckland, I January 28, 1915. Dear Sir or- Sirs, The price of " Champion " Sack Flour from the Ist February will be £15 10s net f.o.b or f.0.r., with the usual advances Jpr small sizes. Since the starting of the war our price has been considerably lower than any other flour manufactured in the Dominion or imported, as we have given the public the benefit of our foresight in wheat-buying. We have not refused to supply anyone in the Auckland Provinceserved all alike and avoided differential rates. We have also supplied the Government (and are still doing so) with flour for Southern towns that are in want. We regret our stock of wheat is of an exhaustible character, and ere long we will have to face the markets of the world, as we assume the Dominion's opening price for new season's crop will be guided by them. To-day. in Southern wheat centres the price of flour is £15 10s net, and if you add freight and charge-., which are from 15s to 17s 6d per ton, our price at present is still much lower. At Melbourne and Adelaide flour is £16 30s. with bran and sharps 70 per cent higher thaa the Dominion's price. Wheat in London is from 58s to 60s per quarter, equal to 7s 3d and 7s 6d per bushel, due to shortage of supplies and recent unsatisfactory reports from the Argentine owing to bad weatherwhich was expected to have a large exportable surplus. It may interest you to kn-iw the range of pries on the Chicago Corn Exchange during the following years: — 1883, from 711 cents to 200 cents 1898, from 62 cents t.» 185 cents 1909. from ?9i cents to 160 eents 1911. from 98 cents to 1551 cents During 1896 and 1897 there was a serious drought in the Commonwealth, and a famine in India, with abnormal prices. During 1902 and 1907 the Commonwealth and the Dominion had a shortage, with abnormal prices. The present crisis, augmented with war, is the worst we have experienced, as there is 1. universal shortage, which was reported by cable from London before the war- It is obvious these abnormal seasons occur about every 5 or 6 years. We must bear in mind that we have introduced European ideas as regards food stuffs into the Orient and elsewhere, and the world's population is also increasing; but our producing areas are not correspondingly so, and. with no surplusages carried over, we are entirely at the mercy of the weather, etc. In view of the foregoing facts, everything should be done to assist the man on the land in wheat-growing, instead of discouraging him. which is often the case, as he has numerous disadvantages to put up with that we little dream aboui. We think the public will admit that during the unfortunate strike and the present crisis we have not taken advantage of our unique positions, but we wish it to be understood that the farmer and miller, or even the Government, cannot control the elements 01 the whims of a Kaiser. .Wo remain. Always at your service, NORTHERN ROLLING MILLING COMPANY, LTD., P. VIRTUE, Manager.