QUALITY OF FLOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 67, 20 March 1937, Page 10

QUALITY OF FLOUR

HOSPITAL BREAD

REPLY TO MINISTER

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day,

Criticism of the statement made by the Minister of Industries and Com- | merce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) reI garding the quality of flour was made by Mr. A. E. Thomas, the contractor, this morning. "It is inaccurate and misleading," said Mr. Thomas. "It is not known what investigations were made by Mr. Hansen, the travelling expert, but his visit to my bakehouse was brief, and the only investigation he could make was of three sample of flour taken from sacks which were in the bakehouse at the time. The Minister continues to hide his head in the sand. He apparently is the only person in New Zealand who does not know that for the past twelve months the flour available has been inconsistent in quality." Mr. Thomas claimed that he never complained about the duality of the flour, but on many occasions he returned flour which he considered unfit for use. In every case the flour had been replaced. The majority of bakers had the same experience and the Minister would find that flour had been returned by the Hospital Board itself. "The Minister," said Mr. Thomas, "realising that his statement will not satisfy the public, offers an inquiry under the Board of Trade Act. He knows that the Act requires that an inquiry must be secret and the only information that can be published 's that which is authorised by the Minister himself. The Minister's attitude will hardly induce the public to regard such an inquiry as satisfactory."