Image TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage Tile
Image size: 4608x7168 Scale: 35% - PanoJS3
Page overview thumbnail

Article text

OVIBSEAS SALES ' OF
WHEAT ANB FLOTJB.
MUST BE MADE BY FEDERAL
BOAHD.
According to an official -statement issued
on June 4 by the Australian Wheat Board.
the Commonwealth Government have had
under consideration the situation brought
about hy the partial cessation of war con
ditions upon the freight position. A ten
dency ? has Tecently been shown to (break
oway from the scheme originated for t'h«
flour. The effect has been demonstrated
i\v demands of shipowners for higher
freights. Wi'tih the release of shipping arti
ficial rates oi freight are cca-sing to apply,
Jierwe it is of the utmost importance to
producers that ho individual action should
be taken which will have the effect of
maintaining or increasing high rates. Al
ready as the result of oompetiidon among
the 'States the-re is iiic-reaping difficulty in
obtaining freight nit payable rates.
The Wheat Board has latterly declined
. to authorise the States to make quotations
to millers for wheat to be gristed into jiour
for export to E.s.vpt and to the Mediter
ranean ports. The reason is twofold. Not
alone is the freight, position affected, but
the Wheat Board loses control of the mar
keting operations, and thereby fails . to.
.obtain the*fnll prices for the growers.
A?i example of the wisdom of concentrat
ing the selling in the one foody was re
cently afforded when the Wheat Board
was al)le to obtain a price for a cargo
bievher by £17,500 than .that originally
offered. U«d there been any competition
in selling this money would not have
reached the growers' pockets, hut would
have go?ie to the merchants and others.
At present there is a good demand over
seas for flour, but t.'he scarcity of shipping
makes business difficult. Buyers ca'ble to
different millers and agents in Australia,
who often^ attempt ' to secure freight irara
the sam« shipowners. If there are six en
quiries for freight instead of one, the rates
must harden. Immediately after the 'pro
fitable transaction previously referred to
was completed business was attempted
otherwise than through the board at a. rate
of freight nearly £2 per ton higher than
-;ras paid by the iboard for a much farther
destination. It is known that this enquiry
was made t from at least two States. Thus
the 'board's eft'oris to obtain reasonable
freights are apt to 'be nullified by indi
vidual action arising from the States.
The operations of the board enable it to
obtain full value dor all overseas destina
tions, but this can continue onlv ,*o long
(ts vac board is able to retain the fullest
control over chartering and marketing.
This is particularly important in view of
a recent decision of the froard that the
States should be notified of the quantities
of flour which it appears safe to grist and
hold for future sale overseas.
The Commonwealth Goveni'inent have
therefore decided that, in the interests of
tne growers and taxpayers, all overssas
sales of wheat and flour are to be made by
the Wheaii Board alone, and that the 'iirc
eent arrangements whereby freight is ee
fflirpd for the Iboard by the Commonwealth
chartering .agents are to remain undis
turbed. This rule will apply to -full car
goes. Applications for the shipment of
?parcels will be dealt with on their merits,
as it is quite possible that a complete ex
oeption made in their favor would be used
a^ a meaiif of defeating the policy which
It is intended should be 'pursued.
$