WHEAT SCHEME.

Wairarapa Age, 15 February 1936, Page 5

WHEAT SCHEME.

SOUTHLAND MILLER ENDORSES PROPOSALS. ■THOROUGHLY SOUND AND WORKABLE.” INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS SAFEGUARDED. OAMARU, February 14. As there seems to exist much misapprehension regarding the Government’s new wheat and flour scheme, Mr. Robert Milligan, a well-known member of Distributors, Ltd., and a prominent flourmiller, was interviewed to-day. He expressed the opinion that it was thoroughly sound and. workable, and that the flour-milling industry would benefit by its introduction. The consumers' interests would also be adequately safeguarded. While the sliding scale of duties on wheat and flour did stabilise wheat prices, Mr. Milligan said, it had always been possible to defeat the object of stabilising flour prices by the erection of new mills, which, in fact, took place, resulting in price-cutting) “The Government’s scheme has completed the stabilisation of both industries, making it effective,’’ he remarked. As there was ample milling capacity in the Dominion, to continue adding unnecessarily to production was a waste of capital cost which sooner or later had to be borne by the public. The scheme had eliminated all that, for it eould be assumed that no new mills would eome into existence. “As the Government’s scheme prevented undue profits Mr. Milligan said he thought there was no ground for criticism. It was all to the good that importations of flour from overseas would cease, as more work for our people would thus be provided. A satisfactory feature was that the staff of Distributors’ Ltd., had been taken over for the purpose of the scheme, ensuring its smooth working from the commencement. —(P.A.)