WHEAT DUTIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 250, 20 September 1929, Page 8

WHEAT DUTIES.

COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY,

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. At the wheat duties inquiry, Mr W. D. Hunt, representing the Unemployment Committee, submitted a paper prepared for the committee, recommending the removal of all duties on stock toods, including wheat and wheat offal, but not on wheat for human consumption. This was to enable New Zealand to compete in the Home market with pig and poultry products, which, he was satisfied, was possible under the suggested conditions. He strongly opposed a subsidy to the millers. This subsidy had to be borne by somebody and would mean extra land or income tax. Mr J. H. Barber, representing the master bakers, quoted the price of flour and bread in Australia and New Zealand, and 6aid that, on an Australian basis, the price would be 6Jd and 7d for a two-pound loaf. He was certain there could not be a reduction in the price of bread without a reduction in the price of wheat and flour. Mr F. H. Hawker, a Christchurch baker said his firm was losing 6s 4d a sack in making heavy bread, but this was made up on fancy lines. Mr A. House, another baker, gave the following figures of the cost of producing the two-pound loaf: Wages ,6d; fuel, .13d; upkeep of plant, .Id; salt and other ingredients, .31d; flour, 3.2 d; administration, .3d; interest, .08d; delivery wages, .57d; other delivery costs, .2od; total ssd. Mr \V. A. Kellow, a Wellington baker, said he had worked out the cost of delivered bread at 5.73 d. The inquiry was adjourned till Tuesday.