FOOD PRICES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14403, 21 September 1914, Page 6

FOOD PRICES.

THE COMMISSION’S REPOST DILATORY ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph.—Special to Herald.) ■WELLINGTON, September 21. The Government does not exhibit any : igus of haste over the regulation of war 1 rices. It was announced on Friday that, an interim report from the- Trade and (.ommerce Commission was in the Premier’s bands, but bo far it has not been made public, and an announcement .is not likely ,o be made until Tuesday. Your representative bears from a good source that the Commission recommends the fixing of definite prices for wheat, 1 our, and bread. SYDNEY, September 12. In accordance with the recommendations of a specially-appointed Food Supply Commission, tneie has been issued a Federal proclamation, prohibiting the" exportation of wheat. Hour, and meat from the Commonwealth to overseas centres outside the I nited Kingdom. . In Melbourne this action is regarded as the possible precursor ot more drastic measures. A statement has been circulated to the effect that the next step contemplated is the “commandeering” by the Federal Government of all the wheat in stores in Melbourne. This statement, although uninspired, has caused much perturbation amongst who want to profit by forcing up the price of grain. Tim proclamation lias also caused much concern to millers who have contracts for the shipment of Hour to the east, in commenting on this development, one of the principal dailies of Sydney stated that while the wheat speculator, as apart from the shipper and miller, was still a recognised factor on the Melbourne market, be bad been scotched, if not killed, in Svdnoy. However, nn the same day the Svdnoy representative of a big firm of - Parisian wheat importers told the Commission appointed to inquire into the prices of necessary commodities in New South "Wales, that there were a groat many speculators in 1 his State. Flo said that nearly all the millers here were wheat speculators, ■Mid he estimate!! the quantity of New South Wales wheat affected by speculations at from -IOC.OiK) to 500,000 bags. Me added that the shippers and millers were holding 90 per cent of the wheat now on hand"in this State. When the proclamation was issued by the Commonwealth authorities, the price of wheat in Melbourne and Sydney was from 5'S 2d to 5s 3d orr bushel, "Holders are now reported to lie prepared to take from 2d to 3d per bushel less.