SOUTHERN FLOUR MILLS

Southland Times, Issue 17732, 9 August 1917, Page 5

SOUTHERN FLOUR MILLS

AFFECTED BY AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, August 8. The importation of Australian wheat and flour is apparently seriously affecting the operations of New Zealand flourmills. This afternoon the Hon. D. Buddo asked the Prime Minister whether he was aware of the danger of southern flourmills being closed down, in whole or in part, by reason of the competition of imported flour and the restriction of their own operations by the prices paid for imported wheat. Mr Buddo considered that if people in this country were going to be driven out of their usual lines of business, arrangements should he made by the Board of Trade or some other body to cope with the situation. The Prime Minister said he had received a number of telegrams from southern millers informing him of their position. The Government were not deaf to the position, which would be dealt with at the next meeting of Cabinet. The position would have to be dealt with in the not far distant future. In Australia there was a large quantify of wheat in store. He had read in newspapers that it was something like 6,000,000 tons, and there was another harvest coming on. Owing to the shortage of shipping it was impossible to get all this away to Britain, consequently they were obtaining other markets and were sending large quantities of wheat and flour to this country. It was difficult to quarrel with the low price, but in consequence of this our flourmills were finding it difficult to carry on, and they were consequently soliciting assistance from the Government.