HOSPITAL BREAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1937, Page 6

HOSPITAL BREAD

QUALITY QUERIED

AN AUCKLAND CONTRACT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 16.' Allegations that bread supplied to -institutions controlled by the Auckland Hospital Board and to recipients of relief was sometimes unfit for human consumption, and that on occasions it had been found to be considerably | under-weight, were made by Mr. W. G. I Mulhbllarid at a meeting of the board. ■ He urged' that the contract for the supply'of bread should be cancelled. The chairman, the Rev. W. C. Wood: Our ;■ solicitor has informed us we cannot stop the contract. Mr. Mulholland: We had in our conditions that he was to supply a cer- | tain weight of bread.' He is not sup-; plying-at,'and that should be enoughl to cancel ■ the contract. Further, he ', is not- supplying a good class of bread, ■ and therefore he should not be allowed | to continue. I The chairman: The Weights and i Measures' Department has taken the, case .oip, and I feel it would be very | unwise for the board to interfere when | the Department has the matter in hand.' If they are satisfied there is a case and get a decision the contract is cancelled, automatically. For us to chip in at present is contrary to the advice of our solicitor. The dietitian reported that-at times the bread-was excellent, ; Mr. . Wood ■ continued.: Mr. Mulholland would con- > vey the; impression that it was uniformly.'unfit- for human consumption, but this was not. true. There were times .when the bread was eminently satisfactory and times when it fell far below. "I have seen bread I would not eat, and that bread is not used; it is condemned;". Mr. Wood concluded. Mr. W. Wallace: If the bread is condemned then that should cancel • the contract. Mr. Wood: I agree, but on the advice of our solicitor it would be unwise ito interfere at the moment. Mr; Wallace: It has been on hand a long time and should not be allowed to continue. The secretary, Mr. H. A. Sommerville, said the board had every right to cancel the contract at present, but as the chairman had stated they were waiting for action by the .Weights and Measures Department.' The bread was not uniformly,, bad, aad 'bad bread had been replaced. • , Dr..Hastings .considered it deplorable for the, Hospital Board to continue, a contract' with any firm that repeatedly supplied bread below standard. "I think we-shpuld'immediately discontinue the contract arid I feel we would have the- public support behind us," Dr. Hastings added. The • matter was referred to the finance committee with power to act.