Higher Bread Price Wanted

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 1

Higher Bread Price Wanted

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, February 27. Bread sales had fallen, the style of bread bought had changed, and the price might still not be high enough to cover costs, the president of the New Zealand Association of Bakers, Mr G. C. Allen said today.

Bread sales by one large Dunedin bakery had fallen 7j per cent since the price increase, Mr Allen said.

“The increased selling price of bread would appear to be insufficient to cover the increased price of flour,” he said.

Wholesale flour prices had increased considerably. A ton of flour for standard pricecontrolled bread cost £9 17s 3d before the price of bread increased, and now cost £46, he said. The increase was caused by the removal of the subsidy, Mr Allen said. But many people were still not paying any extra for their bread, Mr Allen said. People who previously bought an American-style loaf at Is 4d would now buy a sliced,loaf which had risen to that price. “They’re not eating as much of the fancy bread,” Mr Allen said.

Bread prices might change fractionally when decimal currency was introduced in July, Mr Allen suggested.