NEW ZEALAND BREAD

Evening Star, Issue 19839, 12 April 1928, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND BREAD

" WORST IN THE WORLD " OUR RAILWAYS QUITE SATISFACTORY Critisism ot our country and of out country’s customs and commodities are, at the time of their delivery, rather unwelcome, but more often than not it so happens that the results accruing from it are beneficial. The latest New Zealand article to he “ pulled to pieces ” by an overseas visitor is the bread, the staff of life, the strength of our mankind. The gentleman who had the temerity to criticise a food which has helped to build up a sturdy race was a much-travelled person, who, alter completing a tour of the Southern Lakes, left Dunedin by the second express this morning. incidentally, he does not wish Ids _ name and address to be published until the ship on winch he is leaving lor Canada has cleared Iho Hangitoto Channel. “ You ask me for some ot my impressions of your country?” ho remarked in, tho course of an interview. “Well, ] don’t think I’m exactly a gourmand, but I must say that, having just finished my breakfast, the thing that is uppermost in my mind is the poor quality of your bread. Your ordinary, everyday white bread, 1 mean—not the wholemeal and fancy loaves which one sees occasionally. The latter varieties are quite good, and it is a pity they are not more popular, especially tho wholemeal.” “ And do you find that the case right through the dominion?” tho visitor was asked. “ Absolutely. From Auckland to Invercargill. 1 can’t suggest what the reason for it is, hut since the fault is go widespread it is evident that your bakers and their methods are not to blame. There must be some subtle cause which perhaps a thorough analysis would root out. The yeast you use, maybe, or the grain, or the water. Mind you, 1 have heard many other strangers here say the same thing, so please don’t think this is a one-man grouch. Some of us had quite a debate in a northern hotel one night, and the “ pan ” loaf of Now Zealand was acclaimed tho world’s worst, tit only for toast.” The speaker concluded his discourse on bread by calling up visions of what he called the delicious bread of other lands, from the delightful rolls, twists, and hoops of tho Continent, to the American loaves turned out and sealed in a manner -which complied with every known law of hygiene. “That’s rather an interesting point,” said the reporter. “ Visitors usually have a good go at our railways. It lias become monotonous.” “ 1 know, 1 know,” replied the visitor. “ i was warned against them long before 1 came here, but if it is any news to you 1 can say that I have been pleasantly surprised by them.” He went on to say that throughout his sojourn in New Zealand he had never suffered any inconvenieco through train travelling. As regards comfort, the choice of small corridor compartments or of seats in Pullman cars left nothing to be desired. The meal arrangements at wayside stations were quaint, and gave one a chance to have a stretch; the speed of tho express trains was undoubtedly the utmost .that could be obtained under tho narrow-guage conditions ; and in most parts ol the country the scenery was so attractive that the traveller did not notice the time pass by. Of course, the carriages were smaller and more dingy than those most visitors were used to, but for the short distance purposes they were quite satisfactory. . “I hear you arc making all your own locomotives and cars,” he concluded. “You are to be congratulated on the progress made in such a young country.”