Price Rises ‘Not Justified’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31315, 10 March 1967, Page 14

Price Rises ‘Not Justified’

The price of a packet of maize cornflour, although not affected by the removal of subsidies, had risen when whea t e n cornflour prices were increased, about 100 persons were told at a public meeting organised by the Christchurch Campaign Against Rising Prices last evening.

Mrs M. R. Smith told the audience, which mainly comprised women, that one firm which made breadcrumbs in Christchurch had raised its prices by lid a packet during the last week. Another firm

which made breadcrumbs charged 2s 3d for 12oz, and 12oz of bread cost only Bd. Mrs Smith said an ordinary g white loaf cost Is lid for i) Iflb of bread, but most per- t sons were not aware they could also buy a “large sand- I wich” loaf, weighing 21b for 1 the same price. ! When persons bought I sliced bread they had to pay ! for the slicing and wrapping, and it was definitely not a good buy, she said. Housewives must learn to be discriminating shoppers, said Mrs P. Colthorpe, a member of the C.A.R.P. committee. The committee had set up an investigating section, which had gained the support and confidence of a wide

section of the business community, she said. Negotiations had, however, sometimes been hampered by unauthorised persons interviewing members of the business community. Mrs Colthorpe said excessive packaging raised the price of some toilet soaps. She produced three cakes of soap to support her argument Biscuits and sweets were being priced out of the housewife’s regch, and some retailers were buying lowgrade fruit and vegetables and selling them at high prices, she said. The meeting drew up a questionnaire to be sent to the managing director of a bakery firm, who had agreed to answer it The questions

mainly concerned delivery charges, bread quality, and the freshness of bread. A boycott list read to the meeting included soaps, detergent, soap powders, cakes, biscuits and sweets, several being named by brand. A petition which memcould sign, and which asked the Government to investigate existing price levels and rising prices, was also read.

When the price of biscuits was mentioned, several speakers advised housewives to make their own.

The meeting also decided that the campaign should investigate whether edible margarine would be made available in New Zealand, and what its price would be.