GOOD AND CHEAP BREAD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 983, 12 April 1862, Page 3

GOOD AND CHEAP BREAD.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times.

Sir, —Why, when flour has come down from £25 to £14 per ton, does bread remain at its old high price ? Why does the same sized loaf cost only lOd at Christchurch and Is here, or 20 per cent, more ? Why is bread here so frequently sour and barely eatable, while at Christchurch it is sweet and wholesome, and palatable ? Ought it to be here both 20 per cent, higher in price and at the same time 50 per cent lower in quality? Does flour cost more than £1 per ton to bring round to Lyttelton; that is to say, does it cost only about 7 per cent, more here than on the plains? Does fuel for the oven cost about £2 per cord here when it is £3 at Christchurch? If fuel costs 33 per cent, less for baking at Lyttelton, and flour is only 7 per cent, dearer than on the plains, why should not bread be 26 per cent, cheaper instead of 20 per cent, dearer ? If it be so then in fact it might be made here at a cost of 46 per cent, less than at Christchurch ?

Why do we put up with high prices and inferior articles ? What are the obstacles to forming a bread and flour company to secure ourselves at all times the best articles at prices proportionate to the value of wheat ?

I am, sir, yours,

CHEAP LOAF,

Lyttelton Bth April.