N.Z. FLOURMILLER'S CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 49

N.Z. FLOURMILLER'S CO-OPERA-TIVE ASSOCIATION.

(FitGM Our Own CoßitEsroxnENT.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 17

Arising out of the suspension of the New Zealand Flourmillers' Co-operative Association it is stated that the relations between local bakers and millers are strained, and that in consequence bakers in this city have been trying to indi'eo Messrs Steven and 00., flourmillers. of DuqeUin, to enter the local markei. Although "willing to fill any orders sent, it is understood that the Dunedin firm mentioned does not intend going in for "cutting" in the- local market. On the other hand, it is prepared to keep pace with any reductions of price- that may be made. Inquiries made locally show that tha Millers' Association has nob yet closed its offices and dispensed with the services of its staff, and that millers are still sailing its flour, and bakers axe buying it through the association. As to the strained relations between millers and bakers what has probably given rise to the state-ment is the fact that miller- are declining to enter into flour contracts for one year at the prices at present ruling on the understanding that if flour drops in price the bakers are to havo the benefit thereof, but if it advances the millers are not to benefit by such

advance. Several bakers were interviewed, but none of them had heard of any Dmicdin flour having been received in this city, or ordered. Millers and bakers were of the opinion that -unless the Dunedin firm vra» prepared to stand a loss of 15s per ton, the freight of a ton of flour from Dunedin oithar by rail or steamer, flour would always bo bought cheaper locally than it could he got from Dunodin — in other words, Messrs SI even and Co. would require to quoto flour at £6 15s per ton in Dunedin before they could compete on equal terms with local flour. Even under those circumstances they would stand to lose much more than local millers, who could quote a still lower pries and not lose so much. Mr A. H. Blake, president of the Master Bakers' Association, informed the representative of Truth that at a meeting of the association on Wednesday night Messrs Steven and Co. had forwarded a quotation for- flour, and had intimated that their offer would remain open till the next day. Mr Blake was not at liberty to give the price quoted by Messrs Stove n and Co., but the flour when landed in this city would havo been dearer than the price asked for the local flour. He had not heard of any orders having been s°nt to Dunodin, but said that if the Dunodin firm was prepared to land its flour cheaper than local flour could ba bought, and if the quality of the Dunedin article was as good 8,9 the local flour, ho had no doubt that bakers would buy it. Regarding the strained relations between local rmlleis and 'bakers, be said that no rclation= existed between them, and that consequently they could not be strained.