LABOUR'S BREAD SCHEME.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 72, 25 March 1915, Page 7

LABOUR'S BREAD SCHEME.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I have read with deepest awe and admiration W. J. Bell's brilliant' effusion in criticism of Mr. Hall and the threatened State-owned bakeries. I am I sure that, could Mr. Bell's letter be published as' a pamphlet, and scattered' broadcast throughout the civilised world, that every "intelligently-observant elector" (and others) would gasp, and wonder why he had never thought of that. To talk about allowing one man ' to do a job all "on his pat;" when 20 men could do it almost as well, i 3 a j wild, hare-brained "idea that Could only have originated in the head of a man of Mr. Hall's type. I, like Mr. W. J. j Bell, am a great believer" in providing useful labour. Juat think, Mr. Editor, what would happen should the people of this fair Dominion suddenly become perfectly honest, truthful, moral and sober. Even the poor taxi-driver would wait in vain for the policeman's signal, which meant to him another "half-dollar" for giving the joy ride to some hitherto work-providing sinner. Policeman, magistrates, lawyers would all lose their employments.—l am, etc., —"""- | .- . . F. SANDFORD. j (To the Editor.) Sir, —Mr. Bell in his letter on this subjeot has attempted to prove that as much waste as it is possible to cram in, in the manufacture and distribution of bread, is in the interests of the coneumers. Mr. Bell states that the N.S.W. Labour Government's bread scheme ia on a par with .the same Government's State brickworks, the product of which he states was sold to speculative builders, and that workere' rente, instead of falling, actually rose. Evidently he has been nusmfbrmsed. The Labour Government did root sell bricks to specuilative builders, and with the exception of a few instances have sold l "very few bricks at all. Such sales were made to persons to whom the Government had l advanced money to build bheir rown dromes. As to the price of ibricks, they are .being eoki to the Government Departments for 20/ per thousand lees than that chained by private brickyarde, effecting a saving which is certified by the Auditor-General at £15,000 odd in the year. Also, the State bakery provides the N.S.W. troops with bread from wihich they made a profit, and saved' the Connnonwesrith Government the sum of £900 per month. The tat tan of Sydney is approximately 800,-' 000, and under the present method' of manufacture and distribution of bread there is pot one per cent employed. Does mot your coawsspondent understand that 99 per cent of the population wotiid be getting bread at the rate of Id per loaf cheaper, consequently their spending powerr would considerably increase, and the unemployed quickly be absorbed. As to the rents increasing, I wkh to advise your correspondent that the Government has actually comnienoed the building of a model workman's suburb called Daceyville. In addition to being better equipped, the rant of bouses completed is oomeiueraMy -lower than those Of pri-va-tely-rented cottages of inferior aoeommodartfcwl. A further step to reduce rents has ibecn-taken by the erection of a number of csnras cottages at Maroubra, properly equipped, under the- direction of thro Board of Health, for Which, a rental of J/ per wMlc fe charged. Reverting to 2Hr. BcJl's objection* to the Government employing •one cart to oWivetr 'bread to a atneet instead of twenty baker*' carte, I wifl ask Ihlm what ho womM think of a gwrenmient ithnrt employed twenty postmen to deliver lettsns to a otraet where one would suffic*.—l am, etc., saw. VHrroß.