AUSTRALIAN FLOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19977, 20 December 1926, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN FLOUR

REQUEST FOR EMBARGO. THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY. DUTIES,- NOT REGULATION. (Pbr United Press Association.) ASHBURTON. December 18. Arising out cf the conference of wheat glowers held in Ashburton on Dcccmbci 2 last, a deputation, consisting of representatives from. North, Mid and. South Canterbury, waited on the Minister of Agriculture 'the Hon. O. J. Hawken) at Ashburton this afternoon, and asked that an embargo bo placed on Australian flour, or in the alternative, that an increase of 25s per ton be made iii the duty. The conference between the Minister and the deputation was held in committee, hut later the Minister made the following statement to the press: “Regarding the first part of the resolution passed by the farmers’ conference, that there should be an embargo on flour, I stated distinctly that the Government could not undertake to put an embargo on Australian flour, as it was the only protection which the consumer in New Zealand in regard to the price of bread. Flour is sold in Now Zealand at practically one price, and the competition of Australian flour regulates that price. It would mean, if we put an embargo on flour, that the Government would have to regulate the price at which fltf-ur would be sold in New Zealand, and it has been the settled policy of the Government to rely on duties rather than undertake to regulate the price at which flour and bread should be sold. “Referring to the second part of the resolution, that there should he a further duty of 25s per ton on flour, I pointed out that only Parliament could . impose such a duty. If. however, the interests concerned could prove that a dumping duty on Australian flour can bo justified in the circumstances governing the sales of Australian flour for local use and for export, then I have no doubt that the Minister of Customs would take the matter into consideration.” EFFECT OF COMPETITION. REDUCTION IN AUCKLAND. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, December 18. As from Monday, the price of flour will be reduced by the Auckland flourmillors to a rate that will be in accordance with the recent reductions in the south. These alterations had been brought about by the competition from Australia. The new rates, compared with those formerly ruling, are as follow : —Sacks, present price per ton £lB 10s; old price per ton, £2l 6s; 1001 b, £l9 5s Id, old price per ton £22; 501 b £l9 15s, old price £22 10s : 261 b £2O 10s, old price per ton £23 ss. Bran has been reduced from £9 10s to £8 10s, but pollard at £ll 10s is unaltered.