WAR AMONGST THE BAKERS.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7356, 8 July 1889, Page 6

WAR AMONGST THE BAKERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, — Having read two letters which appeared in your paper lately, will you allow mc to say a few words for and against. I am only a journeyman baker, but I have been a number of years in New Zealand, and have worked in different towns between Christchurch and Dunedin, and from what I have seen each master that 1 have worked for has his own weight, therefore I fail to see that a number of loaves purchased by "Paterfamilias" were all equal in weight and quality. Now, sir, in reference to "5.N.D.," who says he knows a few secrets of the trade, I think his secrets are very open ones. The only secret that a master baker would have is the use of alum, and I have not used it,- nor have I seen it used, since I came to New Zealand. Now, sir, I agree with "Paterfamilias" that the rage for everything cheap is a curse to all concerned. A deputation of the journeymen waited on the master bakers a short time back to see if the hours of labor could not be shortened, but under the present orices of bread, I fear It is all " U.P." But, all the same, we do not think we were treated by the master bakers at all well. There is one thing certain, a good many of the socalled master bakers have to work even longer hours than some of us journeymen, and I am not aware of any of them being in a position to give their sons a College education, or that they have a suburban residence ; but, on the contrary, I know a number of cases iv which the bakers' wives get up in the morning to assist in the bakehouse, and the wnole staff consists of the baker, his wife, and a boy. The baking business, you see, is cut up so. These are facts, and " Facks are chiels that winna ding, and daurna be disputed." —Yours, &c, Journeyman Baker.