IMPORT OF WHEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 11

IMPORT OF WHEAT.

ATTITUDE OF THE BAKERS.

"A WICKED BUSINESS."

TAX ON THE PEOPLE'S BREAD

"The whole arrangement is a wicked business from beginning to end," said a prominent Auckland master baker yesterday, when he discussed the arrangements for the importation of 850,000 bushels of wheat from Australia announced on Wednesday by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. R. Masters. The wheat will bo brought in by the Wheat Marketing Agency Company, Limited, commonly known as the Wheat Marketing Board, for distribution to mills at prices in a line with the prices for New Zealandgrown wheat. " The Government is deriving i-evenuo out of this importation, and the public is being victimised for the benefit of tho Southern grower and miller," ho said. " Two-thirds of (he population of NewZealand are in tho North Island, and they are being called on to bolster up the growers and millers, and to pay what amounts to a tax on their bread." The baker stated that tho effect of tho importation of the wheat at a lower rato would be almost impossible to forecast, as it was not known where the shipments would be landed and distributed, but there was litflo likelihood of cheaper flour. If wheat could bo imported duty free into the North Island during tho shortage, it could bo landed for 4s 6d a bushel. If the price were Is a bushel less than that \iling at present it would mean a reduction of £2 a ton, which, passed on to the public, would result in a reduction of Id in the cost of a 41b. loaf.

On the other hand, if during the shortage, flour were permitted to bo imported from Australia duty free, it, could be landed at Auckland at £5 7s 6d a ton less than the price of New Zealand flour, which would result in a reduction of 2d in the. 41b. loaf, allowing 1320 loaves to a ton of flour.

The speaker stated that in February the Master Bakers' Association, which had foreseen a shortage of wheat, had waited on the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, suggesting that a fixed amount of wheat should be admitted duty frco and distributed among millers pro rata according to the purchases of local wheat. This would have had the effect of reducing tho price of flour. The Government had promised to consider the matter, but nothing was done in this direction. At the time the deputation had been told that there would be no shortage, while tho Wheatgrower, the organ of the Canterbury wheat-farmers, had scouted any suggestion of a shortage and had opposed the scheme. " Bakers feel that is useless to make any further protest, tho wheat interests are too strong," ho concluded. " Unless an emphatic and general public protest is made, we feol that nothing will be done. Distributors, Limited, which controls the mills of New Zealand, and the Marketing Board, which controls the supplies, not only of wheat, but also of sharps and bran, are too strong for us."