SMALL BAKERS’ FEAR

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 259, 29 July 1937, Page 10

SMALL BAKERS’ FEAR

Application of Industrial Efficiency Act ASSOCIATION FORMED Dominion Special Service. Auckland, July 28. ' Fear that the application of the Industrial Efficiency Act to the baking trade will result in a number of small family bakers eventually being forced out of business has resulted in the formation in Auckland of the Family Bakers’ Protection Society. A plan which many bakers consider would result in control of the industry being established, has been submitted to associations of the trade throughout (die Dominion for discussion and there is a’ feeling among a section of linkers in Auckland that this would end in many of them being forced out of business. Their contention is that there may be need for some measure of co-operation within the trade to improve conditions, but they are opposed to a suggestion put forward by advocates of the plan that Auckland could be served by one automatic bakery.

The small men responsible for the formation of the protection society say i>hat, with present methods, the maximum amount of labour is employed and the highest standard of quality is obtained because the individual baker wins and retains custom by his personal skill in making bread. They feel that under the plan a number of the hands employed would be eliminated. In a circular which has been sent out to the owners of smaller baking planta, the Family Bakers’ Protection Society states that the society has been formed primarily for opposing any application to bring the baking trade under the provisions of the Industrial Efficiency Act. It is pointed out that the provisions of the Act are clear. If it is applied to an industry then those already in that industry are allowed a period—generally two years, although it could be less—to carry on their business without a licence. Before the period is up*a licence must be applied for, but there Is no obligation whatever on the controlling’ authority to grant a licence to anybody, even if he has been in business for 20 years. At any time after the Act has been made to apply to an industry freedom in selling the business ceases in that a sale could not be made except with tIA approval of the controlling authority and the policy of the Act is to disallow a transfer where the price paid includes a substantial sum for goodwill. The circular adds that it is not suggested that there are not some advantages to be obtained under the Industrial Efficiency Act, but that these could all be achieved by co-operntion within the trade. A baker interested in the formation of the society stated that those who in the past, have taken an interest in the affairs of the Master Bakers’ Association, have been big mbn in the trade and there was a feeling that the best interests of the small men had not been served. It has therefore been decided to call a meeting of a number of small bakers within the association at which the future operations of the society will be discussed.