THE MILLERS' MEETING.

Otago Daily Times, Volume 13696, Issue 13696, 12 September 1906, Page 6

THE MILLERS' MEETING.

TO 'THE EDITOH. »'lß,—Will you allow me a small space to question some statements made at the above meeting on Saturday,' us repotted in your paper. My employment barred mo from ,"i", otherwise I should liavo attended and challenged tho speaker. The •»" 15 tllc llu . ty wc '° takon off heat the nailers could import Australian wheat, and practically compete with the Australian nullr"-' Now _ 1 eha n c tho cnairman of tho meeting to show when -Australian wheat could have been landed in Uunedm and compete with local since tho advent of juo Millers Association could wheat have tim 1 ; din Vr D rr'i" , (dßty free) nt iess tlian id to 3d a bushel above current local quotations. Tho statement, by another speaker that the Australian miller could produce a ton of flour with at least four bushpls loss wheat is,' to say tho least, an exaggeration, one and a-half to twobushoia belli? tho preference allowed Australian wheat; but. against this, the New Zealand miller has just that much more offal, which, at present prices for bran and pollard! would represent 2s 6d a bushel of wheat. .Thus tlio preference claimed for Australian wheat would not exceed 2s 6d a ton of H6ur. The duty on wheat may bo a sop to tho farmer who docs trouble to compare the .market, but wo might just as well have a duty on water as on wheat, for any nilcct tho duty has on tlio prico of wheat. The chairman said: "As a matter of-fact, the prices to-day am easier than at that time when there-"were no such assooia* tions." As a matter.of fact, a comparison of the prices of wheat and flour shows that tho association's price for flour has averaged over 30s a ton higher than for several years preceding tlie advent, of the association. Tho chairman talks of "claptrap." I should sav ho talks " 'tap-doodle." In his eslimato tho of a ton of (lour, compared with tho prico at which it, is sold, leaves " tho small profit of E« 7d per ton." In this estimato no account is taken of tho commission paid to tho association. which, I understand, is 5 per~oont. Thus there would be no direct profit, but a, loss. It is too thin for me.

Is this chairman ■ the person who about three years ago was showing up nil the iniquities of tho Millers' Association, and extolling the virtues'of independent action? Diplomacy has scored here, and secured a worthy convert, who proves himself, not only a pastmaster in collusion, but likewise in misrepresentation.—l nni, etc., Dunedin, September 10. Sceptic,