BREAD DELIVERIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1946, Page 4

BREAD DELIVERIES

FORMATION OF COMPANIES RECOMMENDED PROPOSALS BY BAKERS The formation of bread delivery* companies by affiliated associations will be recommended by the New Zealand Federation of Bakers and Pastrycooks, which has been considering the question in Christchurch fhic WPPk Mr. F. W. Creswell, of Wellington, president of the federation, emphasised that the baking industry had for some time given very serious consideration to the restoration of bread deliveries. Factors which had to be considered were economic, availability of suitable vehicles, and manpower. The public should clearly understand that, but for the elimination of private deliveries and the zoning of areas, the tremendous increase in costs which had taken placV generally during the last 10 yeaii would have necessitated either a substantial increase in the price of bread or a subsidy to the baking industry. No increases in Price. It should be remembered, continued Mr. Creswell, that, with the exception of the recent increase of |d. per 21b. loaf granted for private deliveries, the price of bread has remained unaltered since February, 1936, and that the bread industry was not subsidised. This surely was a remarkable achievement and acknowledgement of the efficiency of the industry. At the council meeting in Christchurch this week further consideration was given to the matter of private deliveries, and in view of the difficulties experienced by master bakers in their unsuccessful endeavours to obtain vehicles, it was decided again to approach the authorities for assistance in this direction by arranging for the industry to obtain higher priority of delivery vans. “The New Zealand Council, after consideration of many proposals, decided that bread delivery companies would be the best method of meeting the position, and is urging their affiliated associations to give early consideration to the formation of such companies for the purpose of combined customers,” said Mr. Creswell. “It is considered that this method of delivery will be the most i economic and satisfactory to the public by providing opportunity for a reasonable choice of breads. Manpower Problem. “With the co-operation of the Government authorities it should be possible for the industry to institute such a system of bread delivery throughout New Zealand. It will also be appreciated by the public that one of the problems still to be overcome is that of manpower, and this was clearly indicated in the report of the Minister of Employment (Mr. McLagan). As the type of employment offered is attractive, the New Zealand Council expects, however, that the position affecting the baking industry will rapidly improve.

“The assurance given by the Government, through the acting-Minis-ter of Labour (Mr. O’Brien) that the baking industry would be compensated for any losses sustained in the operation of private deliveries is appreciated and should do much to encourage the inauguration of the proposed bread delivery companies,” said Mr. Creswell.