RELATED TOPICS 247 
Master Bakers’ Union. ‘With such evidence the Com- 
mission attacked the problem vigorously, and proved that 
in many respects the charges brought against the Associ- 
ation in 1903 were well founded. Thus, one miller on 
withdrawing from the Association, found the prices of 
flour cut down within a week of his withdrawal. The 
object of this is obvious, but fortunately this miller and 
several others are still in a position of stability. 
(c) Monopoly Aimed At.— Undoubtedly, then, this 
combination has not adhered closely to its original 
intention as embodied in the agreement. That monopoly 
was aimed at is a practical certainty, for in the first 
place those very men( or at least the majority of them). 
who were in the best position to endure bad times and 
ultimately capture the milling industry, were most 
vigorous in their agitation for its establishment. They 
evidently preferred the monopoly by the easier road than 
by at first killing competition. Secondly, the practices 
adopted by the Association are unquestionably those of 
monopoly. At present there are some 30 ‘‘associated,’’ 
and about 10 free mills, but the latter class comprises 
almost half the milling strength of the Dominion. There 
has, therefore, never been a wholly successful monopoly ; 
but ‘‘the ever present danger exists of a complete 
monopoly being organised, and the usual methods of 
monopolistic control being adopted.’’ 
What dangers have we then to fear from such a 
monopoly? There is no doubt that flour prices would 
be fixed by the Association, as would output also. The 
Association would also have a monopoly of the purchase 
of wheat in the Dominion, with the exception of the 
relatively small amount purchased for export purposes. 
There would, therefore, be three lines of action open to 
the monopolists. The price of wheat could be forced to 
its lowest figure; flour could be raised in price to an 
unreasonable figure; or by a combination of these two 
lines of action the medium course would be possible. 
