Royal Commission on the Wheat, Flour and Bread Industries

Appointed by the Lyons government in 1934 to inquire into the wheat, flour and bread industries during the Depression. It was chaired by Herbert Gepp; its members included Mr Cheadle, who dissented on compulsory marketing. Its powers were confirmed by the Wheat Commission Bill 1935, which expressly conferred on it the powers of the Royal Commissions Act. The Letters Patent are dated 25 January 1934.

1. 30 July 1934First report signed.
2. 27 November 1934Supplement to the first report signed; tabled the next day.
3. 13 March 1935The Acting Prime Minister told the House the government had received the second report.
4. 10 April 1935Wheat Commission Bill 1935 passed the House, expressly conferring royal commission powers on the commission.

It made a first report dated 30 July 1934, a supplement dated 27 November 1934, a second report in early 1935 with 25 recommendations (including a home-consumption price for flour through an excise, compulsory wheat marketing if growers agreed, and debt adjustment for farmers), and later reports up to 1936. The date of the final report was not found. A home-consumption price for wheat was later introduced through a flour tax in 1938. The Parliamentary Handbook gives 1 April 1936 as the date the final report was presented.

• Financial condition of the wheat industry
• Marketing and pricing of wheat and flour
• Debt adjustment for wheat farmers
• Flour-milling and bread industries

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Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.