BREAD PRICE TO BE RAISED

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25309, 8 October 1947, Page 6

BREAD PRICE TO BE RAISED

DECISION OF BAKERS

NOT WAITING FOR ORDER AFTER NEXT WEEK (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 7t A decision to increase the price of bread without waiting for a new price order if relief from increased costs said to be carried by the industry is not authorised by the Price Tribunal, the Stabilisation Commission, and the Minister of Industries and Commerce by October 17 was made by a special general meeting of the New Zealand Federation of Bakers and Pastrycooks to-day.

The meeting was convened to press for an early decision on the industry’s representations, first submitted last February, for relief from the “substantial increase in bread production costs at present being carried by the industry.” According to a statement by the federation endeavours were made early in the day to obtain a visit from or an interview with the Minister of Industries and Commerce, but the Minister’s secretary said he was so busy on his price control bill that he could not spare the time to meet the bakers. During the morning members of the New Zealand Council of the federation met the Price Tribunal to ascertain the progress made by it in consideration of the industry’s application, said the federation. The tribunal said its decision should be available within a week. The implication of the tribunal’s answer was that there would be more delay in reaching a conclusion as the Stabilisation Commission and the Minister would still have to consider the decision and approve of it before bakers obtained any relief from their costs. Prime Minister Not Available Later attempts were made to reach the Prime Minister, but without avail, Mr Fraser’s secretary saying that it was doubted if any appointment could be made even for to-morrow, and that the Prime Minister might say they should rather meet Mr Nordmeyer. When this was reported to an open meeting of the federation a delegate remarked: “Our trouble is that we are not union secretaries.” The federation’s statement said there had been no change in the selling price of bread since 1936. All increases of cost since then, other than in wheat price, which was covered by a subsidy to the milling industry, had been carried by the bakers. These accumulated increases were considered by the industry to amount to not less than Jd on a 21b loaf, but there had been further substantial increases, including increased wage costs since the Arbitration. Court’s pronouncement. Delegates expressed concern at the continued delay in dealing with the industry’s application. »