PRICE STABILISATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 30 March 1936, Page 8

PRICE STABILISATION

WHEAT, FLOUR AND BREAD SMALL TRADERS DISSATISFIED (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, 27th March. Approval of the price stabilisation plan introduced by the Government in wheat, flour, and bread industries, expressed at the conference of the New Zealand Master Bakers’ Association in Wellington, is hot echoed by the Auckland Small-Traders’ Association. This body was formed recently to protect the interests of small shopkeepers, and its membership of 450 is mainly comprised of sellers of bread. The secretary, Mr A. J. Nathan, stated that the price to the. shopkeeper was formerly 4|d a load, not 4kl, and this margin was not sufficient to show a profit after overhead expenses and paper and string had been allowed for. The association had ali’eady seen the Minister of Industries and Commerce, who had said lie would re-investigate the whole position. Mr Nathan explained that even though price-cutting was not prevented, shopkeepers had to sell well over onethird more bread to get a return equivalent to that previously obtained. The secretary of the Auckland Drivers’ and Related Trades Union, Mr G. Davis, stated that the union was not in any way satisfied with the position. There was ’great dissatisfaction among bakers and drivers, and a protest against the master bakers’ refusal to restore wages cuts had been forwarded to the Minister.