COST OF BREAD TOO HIGH.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1930, Page 4

COST OF BREAD TOO HIGH.

(To The Editor.) Sir.—Will you draw the attention ct the good wives of Taranaki to the way they are being exploited by the millers and a few Canterbury farmers? A loat is worth l(kl and no more. Think or the saving that could be made in this direction. The Government has just increased our taxes, but if anyone «hows how our expenses could be reduced he will only hear the usual tissue of lies that our politicians feed us with. We pay a few Canterbury farmers 6s 6d a bushel for wheat and heaven knows what the millers get. Vou may be sure they get their whack and a bit more. There is a huge surplus of wheat in Australia, that could be landed here under 4s a bushel. There are 200 million bushels in Canada that they cannot use. Make the Government offer 3s a bushel and a million bushels would be landed here in a. montn. You have heard for years the. silly old gag, “Wo must grow our own wheat.” Wheat could be grown in Ne\v Zealand, not at a price to bear comparison with the imported article. Locally our uncertain climate’ makes it impossible. In the South Island land is too high and wages, make growing wheat at a profit unthinkable. I grew wheat for many years aud could make a profit at 3s 6d. Unfortunately I never saw that price. I sold to the local miller at Is lOd. I sent wheat 25 miles by bullock teams and got 2s 6d. I sold to Sentry Hill, Manaia, Ilawera, Waverley, Wanganui and Fordell, all at about 2s 6d.* I have harvested wheat for 10s an acre. Five men in the paddock, I only paid from Is an hour; the fifth, myself, never got anything. One man forking up, two cartbig in, one on the stack with me. I built medium sized round stacks, and while I was finishing one of my crew would be starting another. I used to think it was only a proper and patriotic thing to grow wheat for the people, but the prices beat me, and now I want to know why I should pay Is 2d a loaf when iOd is a fair market value. Perhaps you will allow some other farmer to air this am, etc., A. C. BRETITERTON. Ahuroa Road, Stratford.