15,038. At that date would 1s. 3d. per peck have been a high price for overhead flour of any quality?-Yes, it would have been a top price. 1s. per peck was the price of the common kind; but there is only a difference in price of about 2s. per boll between common and fine.
15,039. Therefore, even for the fine quality, 1s. 3d. would be it very high price?-Yes.
15,040. What were the average prices of oatmeal in 1870?-
In Jan. about 17s. 9d. In April, about 17s. 6d.
" Feb. " 17s. 3d. " May, " 18s. 9d.
" March, " 17s. 6d. " June " 19s. 0d.
Up to the middle of July it was 19s. 6d., and then it took it start in the beginning of the French War up to 22s. In a week it was down 1s., to 21s., at which it continued during the first three weeks of August, and the last week 19s. 6d. September, 19s. The first week of October, 19s.; second week, and to the end of the month, 18s. 6d. November, 19s. December, about 19s. 3d. In 1871 the prices, taking them about the middle of each month, were-
s. d. s. d.
January, 19 6 July, 21 6
February, 20 0 August, 21 0.
March, 20 6 September, 21 0
April, 21 0 October, 20 0
May, 21 6 November, 19 0
June, 21 6 December. 19 6
In January 1872, 19s. cash, or 19s. 6d. credit. The prices I have given are all credit prices. If the cash was paid for meal at any of these times, it was always 6d. per boll less.
15,041. How do you proceed when you sell by the peck?-We always allow half a peck or a peck per sack for weighing out, and that comes to about 1/2d. a peck.
15,042. So that, when meal is 19s. 6d., as at present, it is 131/2d. per peck?-Yes, either cash or credit. We would not make any difference on the peck.
15,043. What was the price of flour at June 26, 1871?-Common overhead flour about that date in June was 16s. per boll, and the best overhead would have been 18s. or 18s. 6d. There is another quality of fine flour, the finest quality we keep, which would have been about 22s. per boll, or 5s. 6d. per quarter.