WHEAT FROM AUSTRALIA.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15317, 4 March 1920, Page 7

WHEAT FROM AUSTRALIA.

COST OF GOVERNMENT PURCHASE

At the request of Mr Twentyman (chairman of the Tenmka branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union) for details regarding the wheat bought by the New Zealand Government from Australia, Mr W. G. M'Donald (Wheat Control ler) replied as follows :— "Replying to your letter of the 4th inst. re the cost to the Government of the "wheat bought in Australia, and its i cost at Timarii', I have to state that the Government bought the wheat in Australia at o's- 7-J-ct f.o.b. Williamstown. ; The cost ex ship at.Timaru at present, : allowing for 35s freight, is approximately 8s 7d. The duty is a little less thnn sixpence, so that if duty were add.f.i I'uo cost at Timaru would be ap[ivn -inintoly 7s Id. The point I made at jtlic coi!tere;ico was that if this wheat ; weiv hmdfH-i at Auckland and sold at 7s ild tli;> f.;gi!thorn miller could not afford to 'give more thanGs 7d for New Zealand wheat and compete in the sale of Hour with the North Island millers." A deputation was appointed at the Wheat Conference held in Christchurch jon Saturday to verify the figures and statements 'regarding' Australian wheat imade by Mr M'Donald (Wheat ControlIjer) at the "Wheat Conference held at j Cbristchurch on January 17. The deputation waited, on Mr M'Donald, when ho submitted the original documents | bearing on this question, and quite satisfied the deputation (states the chairman) that all the statements made 'at that conference by him were in ac- . ccrdance with the facts produced.