BREAD PRICES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27224, 16 December 1953, Page 10

BREAD PRICES

STANDARD FIGURE FOR N.Z. “CAUSE OF IRRITATION REMOVED ” (New Zealand Press Association} WELLINGTON, December 15. The recent adjustment in the retail price of bread to a standard level of 7£d for a 21b loaf would mean no price increase in some districts, the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr J. T. Watts) said today. Even with an increase of Id a loaf, the added expenditure, at the present average consumption, was l|d a person a week, or 659 d a year. This standardisation of breaa prices removed a cause of trouble and irritation among both consumers of bread and bakers, the Minister said- Householders had been paying prices which differed for no other reason than locality. The new price would be standard, except in a few localities where special conditions applied. The Bakers’ Federation was being advised immediately by the Price Tribunal of the prices to be charged for flour, said Mr Watts. There would be slight differences, according to the way in which the flour was delivered, but the aim was to place all bakers, as far as possible, on an equal foot-

“While it is difficult to estimate with accuracy, it appears that the total subsidy on flour and bread will remain at aoout the same figure,” Mr Watts said. 'Tne increases in prices will just about balance the increased costs?’ Mr Watts said he had been advised that the Price Tribunal was satisfied the baking industry as a whole was on a sound basis. The tribunal over recent months had had many discus* sions with the Master Bakers’ Federation, and it had had opportunity to review the financial position of the industry. The new flour and bread prices would put all bakers on the same footing, the Minister said.