THE PRICE OF BREAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 163, 10 July 1907, Page 8

THE PRICE OF BREAD.

(To the Editor.) Sir„—l notice a correspondent, " Vie- | tini," in this evening's issue is bewailing the recent advance in price of bread, and that it will prevent him enjoying a copy of your paper and a penny section ride in the trams. The fatter is a luxury, for so short a distance, which I cannot afford; the individual interest is again predominant at the cost of someone else. '"' Vsc_m*3 " information about 1000 tons of flour being booked at low rates, is to some extent borne out by the Hon. S. T. George's recent speech at the Chamber of Commerce dinner - ; we will, for argument's sake, accept it as. accurate Reference to- the Trades Guide shows there are some 60 bakers in Auckland and suburbs, which means about 161 tons to each baker. Even if the quantity were doubled it is not very serious, and the miller is not so bad as painted. On my way home I inquired of a baker when the recent advance took place, and he said about the middle of May, so a fair quantity of the cheap flour has gone. " Victim" says his baker is using 20 tons monthly; it is obvious that only a few with the ready cash or good credit have secured the miller's generosity. We might put them down at-20, which leases 40 bakers who

are paying full rates for flour; but according to " Victim's " argument, the 20 bakers should undersell the 40 unfortunates. There would follow the usual cry of capital trying to "crush the small struggling, man to get a monopoly, with the object of making the public pay through the nose for their bread. If there is such a good thing in bread, and "Victim" and his friends have the courage and capital, I feel sure the public would hail with delight their appearance as a co-operative bakery, assuming they sold cheaper than elsewhere; but "Victim's" argument would then be, there was no sentiment in business, and they wanted a. -fair return for capital. After all, Victim" may be only feeling the public, having an idle plant in pickle; for, n 1 am not mistaken, "Victim" suggests someone else should do the sentimental business.

I never listen to w hat is sa id about the cost or production of any article, because any person, if possessed of pluck and capital, has the right to enter for competition, but he will never find friends willingly advance him the cash to experiment with. On this point lam IT, of S°" h ~ ™~ st **t direc tor, of wh.ch there are a large number. ZT\ P° tatoeS ' flour > br ead, meat milk, butter, coals, timber and forage have advanced Wages are fixed b/ttie Zw of I 8 0?' aD f b3d times ' an * the <Z £„ UpPly - and demand Axed ? commodi «es. In conclusion, and d , ft 6 - tends t0 adulteration and suffering.— I am, etc., CRITIC.

(To the Editor.) -..££•**?* the time &as th.public to compel the bakers to reduce the price of bread. They Dromised two weeks ago to do so The price of flour has lone _-£,"_._ ,£ al *,- *I e £0n ~ ood authority that flo_r w *• c bake , rs are concerned the They _S- r eD sH « htl y * a * aUfhl M• 6Jt reserv ed for them at the o d prices. The Government should certainly take steps to stop this extor +W i l e P resent Price of bread they make about one penny per 2 lb loaf profit, which I t_i_k is sheer rot bery.—l am, etc., PONSONBY. '