More Criticism of Wrapping of Bread

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 58, 9 March 1945, Page 4

More Criticism of Wrapping of Bread

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March S. . Strong exception is taken by the New Zealand Master Grocers’ Federation to the announcement by the Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer) that the Government may compel grocers to wrap bread sold over the counter. The secretary of the federation (Mr. R. M, Barker) said to-day that grocers throughout the Dominion consider the Minister is endeavouring to intimidate the trade into doing something which it cannot afford to do, “Mr. Nordmeyer is at perfect liberty to gazette regulations requiring resellers to wrap bread, but at the same time lie can’t compel grocers to handle an unprofitable line,” Mr. Barker said. “The gross profit on bread is 9 per cent., which is less than the cost of runniug a grocery business. It is therefore unreasonable to expect the trade to incur further expense which will mean added cost in handling this commodity. If Mr. Nordmeyer wants bread to be wrapped then the onus is on him either to increase the profit margin or, alternatively, have the bread already wrapped when delivery is made to the retailer. * 1 The position is particularly vital in Otago, where house-to-house deliveries were discontinued in 1942 and as a consequence the distribution was thrown mainly on the retailers. If the Minister forces the position to the extent that grocers refuse to handle bread, then the greatest hardship will fall upon the consuming public. “ Mr. Nordmeyer would be therefore well advised against taking any precipitate action. If he wants to implement any changes in the matter of sales of bread by grocers he should first confer with the federation instead of making the first intimation through the press,” Mr. Barker concluded.