THE PRICE OF FLOUR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12239, 12 June 1909, Page 7

THE PRICE OF FLOUR.

DUNEDIN MILLERS AND THE

AUCKLAND PRICES

(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, June 10. In reply to a statement contained in an Auckland telegram to the effect that a baker there had never heard of flour being landed in Auckland at £10 Os tid per ton and that they hal no cognisance of any 2£ per cent, discount prevailing, a local miller said: "I have seen the Auckland wire and those statements are simply absurd." He produced telegrams and letters. "I quoted Auckland, you see, 25 tons of flour, landed on Auckland wharf at £10 15s. Now if Auckland prices were £12 10s, would that not have been, accepted ? But it wasn't. Here is the reply: 'another firm quotes £10 10s c.i.f. Auckland, can you reduce?' I didn't reduce. This £12 10s price is an old game and has been foisted on the Auckland public for ten years. The Auckland miller keeps the price high (nominally), and allows the bakers high rebates, and the bakers charge the public for its bread on a basis of the nominal • price—£l2 10s. Every miller knows these facts and it was a foolish thing on the part of the Auckland miller to have published his price in the way he did. Difference of 28s in price of flour, means a penny in the price of bread."

Another miller placed further particulars and figures at the reporter's disposal and these showed,that the price of £12 10s was utter quibble and beyond reason. He produced, from an Auckland merchant, a letter that stated that large quantities of flour had been sold, and the writer offered to* do business on a basis of £10 net f.o.b. Southern ports. Tina is below the Association's tariff, by which flour can be landed in Auckland at £10 15s per ton. "You will notice," said the miller in conclusion "that the Auckland wire evades the point of issue, which is the price of flour in Auckland, and compares the price of wheat 5 or 6 weeks ago before the reduction took place in the millers' prices, with present price of flour. The position now is, can Auckland deny the accuracy of our figures?"