INCREASE DECIDED UPON LOCALLY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12934, 14 October 1907, Page 7

INCREASE DECIDED UPON LOCALLY.

At a meetipg of master bakers held in this city on Saturday night, which was attended by sixteen, it was decided to increase the prico of broad by id per 41b loaf. Prior to tihis decision the prices ruling locally were:—Delivered by bakers, GJd* sold t>y bakers to stores at sid, on tho understanding •that they woro not to sell at lees than 6d. The prices decided on at Saturday night's meeting were:—Delivered by* bakers, 7d; to bo sold nt bakers.' shops at 6UI: stores to be charged 6d, but not to sell for less than Ojd. The increased prices came into effect on and after to-day. Tho meeting was presided over by Mr J. Xeavc, who stated that tho bakers never anticipated that flour would havo increased in price en suddenly as it had during the week. Mr Vf. Thomson asked what the priceprico of flour was, nnd complained that tho Christehurch newspapers did not give tho true state of affaire. Tho Chairman, said that tho prico wns £12'por ton, but ho had noticed that for tho past fortnight tko newspapers had quoted tho wrong price,— £10 If Is when it should have boen £11. It made it hard for the poor baker when he increased tho price of broad to explain the reasons for doing so, when tho quotations for flour wero not given correctly. . . Mr Thomson mentumo'l that tno bakers in Wellington had increased the price of bread to 80,; in Dtinedm and Timaru to 7id ; and tho Chairman mentioned that tlie price in was 7d and 7Jd. . It was also stated that tho Timaru bakers intended making a further increase* owing to the recent rise in tho prico of flour. ■Mr L. P. Ebort movedk—"That on and after Monday tho price of bread be 7d." Ho eiippospd they would have to allow tho stores to sell at Id less, but it would bo a great pity, though he admitted that they could not very well step it. The bakers would havo to sell to the stores at 6d, and the etores to sell at GJd. Mr A. Blake seconded pro forma, but contended that tho price to stores should bo 6Jd. Ho stated that in addition to the price of flour having advanced, tho cost .of horfo feed and other things had increased. If local bakors charged in the same ratio as those in" other parts, thi-y would make Mr< BlaWs suggestion, that tho prico to stores .should Mr J. Hiron pointed out that this meant increasing the price, to stores by Id which was unfair. . Mr Cook said it was no use in putting tho price up Id to the stores if it wero not put up Id all round. There was about 60 per cent, of the trade not represented at tho inecting. Mr Thomson said that tho meeting represented more than (BO per cent, of the bakers in the town. Mr Cook thought tho pnoe should bo raised a penny all round. They were justified in asking for such an. .increase. They had refrained from raising the price for a considerable time, and were now charging tho same price -as when flour was low and tho public had had the advantago of this. At a previous mooting that week they had left over thd question of increasing the price till the anticipated rise- in flour took place. Flour had; gone up almost equal to Id per loaf, and they were asking for a whole halfpenny. They ought either to allow matters to stand aa at present or ask for a penny and have done with scraping to tho public. •■« Mr Schumacher questioned "whether they would get tho" Id'if-they increased, the*price by that amount. At present the price was supposed to be 6Jd, whether booked or notj but he knew ot" stores which: were sellitig at old. .. Another speaker said that . half-a* doßen of his customers had told him that if t3ie price of bread' was increased to 7d he need not bother to wait on them. ; Mr Ebert: You would bo better without them at tlio present.pried,of flour. ■ ■: s ■'■/■•, . Mr Cook eaid he would like to ccc the price to stores fixed ac proposed by the amended motion, but it w?s impossible so long as they had pertain men, in the trade. moved' as an amendment: —"Thai the price delivered be 7d, that the stores bo charged Gd on the understanding that they dp not sell under 6Jd, the price at bakers' shops to be 61d. -#• ' Mr Pratt seconded the .amendment, which was, in effect, identical with the motion moved by Mr Efcert., The mover of that motion., with the consent of his "seconder, withdrew it, and the amendment (now the motion) moved by Messrs Cook and Pratt was agreed to. It was decided that the increased prices should take effect on and after to-day.