HIGH PRICE OF BREAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 February 1931, Page 2

HIGH PRICE OF BREAD

REDUCTION IMPOSSIBLE EFFECT OF SLIDING SCALE OF DUTIES GREY MOUTH, 20 th February. Mr H. P. Burton, president of the Master Bakers’ Association, gave the •following statement to the Press (in regard to the price of bread: — “As the Press of New Zealand has definitely sought a statement from the Rakers regarding the price of bread and the attitude of this Federation to the present sliding scale of wheat and flour duties, and as, in any case, the country in these difficult times is entitled to such a statement, on your behalf I am taking _ this opportunity of reviewing the position. “Regarding tlie sliding scale it is clear that the Government has definitely fixed the scale until the end of the year. That being so, it can onh be revised by Government action. The Prime Minister is committed, and has committed the Government, to this arrangement and it seems idle to suggest that there can be any revision of the position at least until the end of the year. It is only fair to point out to the public that the arrangement is the product of a Government servant, ratified by the then Government in power and since confirmed by the Forbes Government. That being so, there can bo immediate recourse to relief only through the farmer, pending a reduction in the price of wheat to the millers. „ T , “Then what of the miller' if a reduction is to be made it can only he made immediately through wheat prices being reduced or a revision of production costs. It has to be reme inhered that tlie ibra.n offlal question is a definite factor and at the present time the position is definitely against the miller. . “What then of _ the baker? It is necessary to remind the public that with 1320 loaves produced from one ton of (lour, this represents B2 15s per ton of flour oil a rise or fall of ono half-penny per loaf. In view therefore of the fart that the baker is right up. against a fixed charge for hour, it is clearly impossible to make any alteration in the price of bread to the New Zealand consumer until some relief can he made from the farmer and miller. lam prepared to say, however, that the Bakers’ Federation will definitely commit itself tc any conference whereby the position may be reviewed. V.e arc prepared to make our contribution to the present need of national .stocktaking with a view to reducing the price of bread. It is only right to our industry to say that the high pries of bread was no wish of the” baker for the lower priced trade must assuredly stimulate sales and stimulated sales mean mean employment.”