PRICE OF BREAD

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1936, Page 5

PRICE OF BREAD

OUTSIDE CITIES Special Regulations (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON,, February 11. J(nxp.iiri,es in official circles as to the price of the standard loaf in the. provincial centres and towns at some distance ..from the main port, or centre for the delivery of flour at a fix ed price, showed that the authorities have made arrangements to safeguard standard bread purchasers against undue exploitation. It is obvious that, on a geographical basis, there wil be many differences in transport charges, some bakers having to pay more for tb« transport of flour than others, and yet they may not' have to pay enough more to justify an additional charge, of a iialf-pennv for the 21b standard loaf to meet the increased transport i charge. In such cases, an adjustment will have 'to be made, in order to prevent the exploitation of the bread consumers in the one instance, and undue loss to the bakers in the other. It would appear that, outside the main centres, where the delivery of flour can be maintained at a uniform fixed price, the transport charges to bakers in the provincial towns and rural districts will have to be cheeked by the authorities in order to prevent overcharging for bread. As one official said to-day. these difficulties and possible ' anomalies will have to be adjusted as a result of experience.

CHANGE WELCOMED. OAMARU, February 10. Interviewed this morning, Mr R. K. Ireland, chairman of Distributors Ltd., considered the idea of the Wheat Committee taking over the control of the wheat industry was definitely a good one, as mills, including Auckland, would be brought into the scheme. So far as Distributors, Ltd., was concerned it would definitely go out. Its agreement with millers would expire at the end of February. Negotiations were proceeding for an extension of the agreement for twelve months, but these would cease. Mr Ireland considered rhat the Government had endeavoured to be fair to millers, at the same time looking after other interests, and though the millers’ profits were limited to a narrow margin, he was quite sure .the scheme would work. The sliding scale of duties was all right as far as it went, but the full benefit was not derived from it owing to the conflict of interests in the Dominion.

BAKERS’ CONFERENCE VIEW. WANGANUI. February 11. At the Bakers’ Conference, Mr W. H. Warren, South Island organiser, directed attention to the following statement in “The Dominion”: “One baker recalled an occasion when the lato Mr Massey increased the price of flour to bakers, without allowing an increase in the retail price of bread. The bakers had then gone to Mr Massey, and told him in effect that if he insisted on that, the Gov eminent would have to bake its own bread. There was a suggestion that the same position might arise again.’’ Mr C. Cowan (Auckland) said the Conference should take no notice of the statement by one particular baker. The Conference decided to dissociate itself with such a statement.

AWARDS HOLIDAY. WANGANUI, February 11. The Master Bakers’ Conference this morning, carried an Auckland remit that where an award covering an industry makes provision for holidays being given to workers engaged in such industry, that it be an offence for any party engaged in such industry, covered by an award to remain open, or conduct its ordinary business during such time as the award prohibits the employment of labour in such industry. In other word-;, and in so far as bakers are concerned, that the making of bread should be prohibited during the hours an award fixes should be observed as holidays. The delegates will proceed to Wellington to-morrow, to interview the Minister to extract more details restabilisation, etc.