Small loaves in ‘not too distant future’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33694, 18 November 1974, Page 6

Small loaves in ‘not too distant future’

A small loaf of bread may be available again in Christchurch when bakers convert to metric weights. The authorised metric weights for bread include a 350 gram loaf: which, at 12oz, will be similar in size to half of the lib 12oz loaf that could be split.

In a reply to submissions by Mrs Alexia Pickering, the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Freer) says: ’The difficult question of the small loaf can be resolved satisfactorily only by the early introduction of the 350 gram loaf. Earlier this year, Mrs Pickering called a meeting of representatives of the [Master Bakers’ Association [to discuss consumer com- ■ plaints after the withdrawal of the split loaf. She was [supported by representatives

of women’s organisations, and senior citizens' groups. The association told Mrs Pickering it was willing to produce the loaf again if the Price Tribunal would agree to a slight increase in the price.

Mr Freer replies that this would necessitate the same increase in payment to bakers in many places in New Zealand who are already producing the loaf, needlessly increasing the cost to their consumers. Bakers elsewhere would be reluctant to continue producing the loaf at less than the increased Christchurch price, he said. Bakers would, in the “not too distant future," be converting to metric weights, and he doubted whether they would be prepared to change their production to include lib 12oz loaves for a short period.