PRICE OF FLOUR

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 28

PRICE OF FLOUR

MASTER BAKERS’ VIEWS FIXED PROTECTIVE DUTY ADVOCATED. WELLINGTON, August 29. Mr H. P. Burton, president of thfe New Zealand Master Bakers’ Federation, m a statement, explains that while upholding the principle that there should be some form of protection for the wheat growers, the bakers insist that there should be a return to die old fixed protective, duty of £3 a ton on flour. Wheii the sliding scale was first introduced, however, it was never anticipated by its sponsors that the present wide dis crepancy between New Zealand and Australian prices for wheat and flour would obtain. To-day flour may be bought,” said Mr Burton, “in Australia as follows-— Melbourne, £5 10s, f.0.b., a ton, and Sydney, £7 10s, f.0.b., a ton. If freight and incidental charges including cartage at this end are added, flour cau be landed and placed in the factory of Auckland ot Wellington bakers at approximated from Sydney £9 a ton, and from Melbourne at £7 10s a ton, as against the Auckland price of £lB 7s 6d a ton, less 21 per cent., for New Zealand flour. n view of these figures, therefore, it is obvious that the wheat grower of New Zealand ih enjoying protection out of all proportion to the equity and public consideration.”