WHEAT AND FLOUR

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 11

WHEAT AND FLOUR

BOARD OF TBADE REPORT. NOT AVAILABLE THIS YEAR. (Fnou Ouh Own Correspondent.) "WELLINGTON, December 22. The Minister of Commerce stated to-day that the Board of Trade would not now be able to submit its report on the wheat and flour proposals discussed at the recent conference in Christchurch until early in the new year It had advanced a further stage with its inquiry, having boon in touch with millers and bakers, but was not yet prepared to suggest a price for wheat. This, of course, is the most important item on v.hich it will have to report. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Russell) made a statement to-day in defence of a branch of his department that has been criticised adversely. " During the conferences that have recently been held regarding the price of wheat," said Mr Russell, "questions have been raised, especially at the conference in Christchurch,vas to the accuracy of the Census and Statistics Office. The matter has been referred to the Government Statistician for explanation, and he has forwarded to me the following reply:—(l) The returns collected monthly for the season 1915-16 from thrashing miil owners show that in round numbers 6.750.000 bushels of wheat were thrashed; (2) particulars collected by the police from the farmers themselves gave an actual yield of a little over 7,000.000 bushels; (3) taking the production as above, and allowing for nine months' consumption at 500.000 bushels per month and the now season's seed requirements, the stock of wheat in the dominion on November 30 should have been between 1,750,000 and 2,000,000 bushels; (4) the census just taken shows that the quantity of milling wheat held in stock by farmers, merchants, and flourmillers was, in round numbers, 1,750,000 bushels. In view of the facts as stated. I hope there will be no further questioning by those interested as to the accuracy of the figures published by the Government Statistician."