WHEAT DEALINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 13

WHEAT DEALINGS

SOME QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER. (1-irom Our Own Correspondent.; WELLINGTON, April 13.

Tho Board of Trade is going to Christchurch on Monday to discuss with farmers, merchants, and miners certain questions that have ar.sen in tne development 01 the Government's wheat purchase enterprise. The Government lias rixed tne price of wheat at 5s lOd per bushel, f.o.b. If all the wheat were brought to a port and actually shipped no question would bo at all likely to arise as to the effect of tne term f.0.b., but the fact is that only some of the wheat is shipped. The maximum price is that probable ior wheat delivered at some main port of shipment, and if the wheat is purchased free on rail at a country station the grower or other seller is entitled only to the fixed price less the cost of transport to the nearest port of shipment It is, therefore, a broach of the Order-in-Council to Eay any farmer the prico of 5s lOd per ushel free on rail at a country station. In the same way, if a farmer sells his wheat to a country mill, of which there aro a, fow in Canterbury, he is not entitled to receive the f.o.b. price. If, for instance, a Itangiora farmer sells his wheat to the local mill ho is entitled to payment at the rate of 5s lOd per bushel, less flip cost per bushel of transporting that wheat to Lyttelton, even though thoso costs have not actually been incurred.

There .3 a misunderstanding also regarding the payment of brokerage. ' Brokerage is allowed for service actually performed. If a Wellington merchant instructs a Christchurch firm to buy for him a certain quantity «£ Axhea* tho Ohristchurcb firm is en-

titled to buy the wheat at tho current market price, which is now the fixed price, and to charge brokerage, but it is not legal for a merchant to charge brokerage on tho re-sale of wheat which he has himself purchased on his own > account at the price fixed by the Government. ADULTERATED MILK. HEAVY FINE ON VENDOR. WELLINGTON. April 13. Harry 'Jarvis, a milk supplier, was charged in the Magistrate's Court to-day on two informations with having sold milk containing boron compound. The Crown Prosecutor asked for a heavy penalty because the defendant had previously been convicted for adding water to milk. Theso prosecutions, ho said, becoming numerous, and would be no effective deterrent unless heavy fines were imposed. The use of boron compound was very injurious to little children and babies. For' the defence, Mr O'Rcgan stated that he. intended to plead guilty. The circum stances were that owing to a shortage ot waiter for cooling purposes during dry weather Jarvis placed a little carbonate of soda in the milk as a preservative. He had committed the breach quite unmten tionally. . . , The magistrate took a serious view ol the case, and imposed a penalty of £ZO, with costs. An order was also made that the convietjon be advertised.