SCRATCH FROM "CATSPAW"

Evening Star, Issue 19196, 12 March 1926, Page 4

SCRATCH FROM "CATSPAW"

BAKERS RESENT JIBES PRESS ATTACKS TOO FREQUENT “.VIGILANTS ” TO WATCH TAPERS. “It is high time that we bakers fought against being the ‘catspaw’ of the miller, the politician, the Tress, or any other humbug who likes to attack the trade,” were the remarks of Mr W. it. Andrews, of Wellington, in speaking to a paper delivered by Mr W. W. Millar, of Invercargill, at the New Zealand Master Takers and Pastry-, cooks’ Conference, which was in session last evening. There was tense silence when Mr Millar rose to deliver his paper. The. title of Jiis address had puzzled some, while others wore wondering how the speaker was going to deal with his subject. Mr Millar, however, soon put. everyone at rest when he read a poem which, in his opinion, truly expressed the mental attitude of Press, politician, and the general public towards the “catspaw,” the baker. “I think you will agree with mo when I toll you that the antagonistic attitude towards bakers is largely influenced and fostered by the unceasing journalistic attacks of the present day. A forcibly expressed denunciation of the calling you have fondly considered honorable appears with regular frequency in the public Press.” The speaker continued by slating that the ebullition of the journalist was almost invariably characterised by a lamentable lack of logical sense, which appeared to make the stories more acceptable for reiteration and broadcasting. While the epidemic was on a perfect hail of venom was hurled at the inoffensive baker for the edification of the universal reader of the daily papers. The speaker then wont on to quote various articles which bad appeared in a Southland paper from time to time, especially during and since (he General Election, which articles, the speaker maintained, were punctuated right through with serious inaccuracies and absence of true facts.

All this, the speaker maintained, would bo harmless enough if dealt with in a proper manner, and he felt that the ventilation of the complaints would result in complete justification of tho baker. Then the baker would be put “ onsido ” in the eyes of the public.

“All this I have mentioned is harmless enough, but what about the following recent examples culled from the daily papers—‘Peril in White Bread,’ ‘Bakers and Disease,’ ‘ White Bread Is Poison,’ ‘Danger Lurks in the Daily boat,’ ‘The Cause of Cancer, Appendicitis, Tooth Decay,’ etc., etc.” Continuing, the speaker said that his point was that the newspaper, l ! appeared to be ever ready and seemed to display eager haste to publish any twaddle emanating from any source upon the subject of bread. The custom was lost in the mists of antiquity. The speaker then quoted further from the newspapers of the day, much to the amusement of the delegates present at the meeting. He showd that even before the days of pharaoh the baker was made the scapegoat of ruiers and politicians. The journalistic propensity of the present day created a false mental attitude on the part of the public, and most readers swallowed the fraudulent reasoning, not having either the means or the inclination to investigate the true facts.

Having shown the invidious position of the baker, the speaker went on to suggest a remedy in the formation of a publicity and vigilant committee, which could reply to all criticism. In speaking to the paper, the Chairman said that ho had to compliment Mr Millar on his able paper, and ho quite agreed with all his sentiments. The speaker noticed that if any attack was made on the British Medical Association a member was immediately deputed to reply to the attack. Mr W. It. Andrews ('Wellington), who also complimented the speaker, said that it was high time that the bakers fought against being the catspaw of the miller, the politician, the Press, “or any other humbug who liked to attack the trade.”

Other speakers also voiced their general approval of the paper delivered hy Mr Millar, and a hearty vole of thanks was accorded him for his address, which' had come at a. very opportune time.

The Chairman said that in fairness to the Press he thought that the bakers’ side would he published if it was taken along.

Mr A. F. Tonks said that the bakers would have to take up the cudgels on their own behalf. The speaker had taken up the part of the Wellington Association once through the Press, and he had received a dreadful ‘slating’ from ‘Truth.’ However, ho understood that no man was made in New Zealand until he had been “slated” in ‘Truth.’ ('Laughter.) The Chairman; Whom are we going to have for publicity and vigilant heroes, gentlemen P ( Laughter.) It was finally resolved to appoint Messrs W. W. Millar (Invercargill), W. P. Andrews (Wellington), Hawker (Christchurch), and Barker (Auckland) as publicity and vigilant agents for (ho New Zealand Bakers and Pastrycooks’ Association.