DELIVERY OF BREAD

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25021, 1 November 1946, Page 8

DELIVERY OF BREAD

GOVERNMENT’S OFFER TO BAKERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 31. In a further effort to obtain the reinstatement of household deliveries of bread, the Minister of Transport (the Hon. J. O’Brien) has conferred with the president of the Master Bakers’ Federation (Mr F. W. Creswell) and Mr H. E. Fairey, a member of the executive of the federation. Mr O’Brien told the bakers’ representatives that he considered household deliveries should be resumed, and that, if after a period of trial it was found that there were losses that should not legitimately be borne by bakers, the Government would be prepared to meet those losses. Mr O’Brien said to-day that Mr Creswell and Mr Fairey had explained that They were not entitled to speak for the bakers of New Zealand on the matter. They knew bakers had gone very thoroughly into the question, but they intimated that the Price Tribunal’s offer of Id a loaf for delivery was wholly inadequate, even if bakers had the motor vehicles and the manpower. They had pointed out, said Mr O’Brien that most vehicles now being used for wholesale deliveries were several years old and could not stand up to the running entailed in, household deliveries. They had further stated that the zoning of deliveries was being investigated, and it was felt that in that matter the bakers would require some protection in order to make deliveries effective and give consumers a fair choice of different makes of bread.

Mr O’Brien said that after considerable discussion he had informed the bakers’ representatives that he thought deliveries should start as early as possible, and made the offer of compensation previously mentioned.