DUTY ON FLOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3783, 14 September 1926, Page 23

DUTY ON FLOUR.

NECESSARY FOR INDUSTRY. INCREASED ACREAGE RESULTS. WELLING r . )N, September 11. The present duty on flour of £3 per ton, states the Minister of Agriculture, is more necessary for the protection of the wheatgrowing industry than it is for the protection of the flour-milling industry, as it is the policy of the Government, in the best interests of the public generally, to make the Dominion self-rebant in the matter of providing itself with wheat ar 1 wheat products. “I do not think it is necessary that the Government should consider the question cf repealing the present duty on imported flour,” states the Minister. “The action ol the Government in refraining from interference with the present duties on wheat and flour has had ’ desired effect of increasing the acreage sown in wheat to such an* extent this year thaw there is every prospect of the full requirements of the Dominion being supplied by the coming New Zealand harvest. # The reason why the price of flour f.o.b. is £1 5s ton more for Gisborne than it is for Napier f.o.b. is on account of the costs of transhipment and freight on Australian flour, with which New Zealand millers are now in competition, from the main ports to Gisborne, where no direct shipping from Australia is available. Picton, Greymouth, and Hokitika are charged on the same basis as Gisborne. The competitive basis upon which flour is being sold has created what is apparently another anomaly —namely, that the price in Timaru, for instance, where the mills are located, is £1 5s to £1 10s per ton higher than the price that is charged Lo.b. Timaru, when the flour is sold to merchants in places like New Plymouth, Wellington, and Napier.