INTERESTING FIGURES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13928, 11 June 1909, Page 2

INTERESTING FIGURES.

DUNEDIN, June 10. In reply to the statement contained in an Aucklandd telegram to the effect that bakers there had never heard of flonr being landed in Auckland at £10 0s }d per ton, and that they had no cognisance of any 2J per cent, discount prevailing, a local miller said: "I have seen an Auckland wire, and j those statements are simply absurd. He produced telegrams and letters. I quoted Auckland. You see 25 tolls of flour landed on the Auckland wharf at £10 15s. Now, if the Auckland price were £12 10s would that not havt> been accepted? But it wasn't. Here i£ the reply. 'Another firm quotes^£lo 10s e.i.f. Auckland. Can yon reduce?' I > didn't reduce this £12 10s. It i$ an old game, and has been foisted oft the - Auckland public for ten ytears. The Auckland miller keeps the price high (nominally) and allows the bakers high rebates, and the bakers charge the public for the bread on the basis of the nominal price of £12 10s. Every miller knows these facts, and it was & foolisft thing on the part of the Auckland mUler to have published his price in tntt way he did. The difference of 28s in" price of flour means a penny in the ■ price of bread." Another miller placed farther particulars and fignres at the reporter s disposal, and these showed that the price of £12 10s was an utter quibble, and beyond reason. He produced from an Auckland merchant a letter wmen stated that large quantities of flour had been sold, and the writer offered to do business on tho basis of £10 net f .o.b. southern ports. This is below . the association's tariff by which flour can h^ landed in Auckland at £10 15s I per ton. "You ,will notice," said- the miller in conclusion, "that the,Aticfc=land wire evades the point at issue, which is the price- of "floor in Auckland, and compares the price of wheat five ojt ' six weeks ago before the reduction took - ulace in millers' pricas with the pre=wnt price .of flonr. The position now . is, can ' Auckland deny the accuracy of ->ur fignres?" "