THE PRICE OF BREAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 12 August 1929, Page 11

THE PRICE OF BREAD.

A MELBOURNE REVOLT.

HOUSEWIVES TAKE ACTION.

The Housewives' Association in Melbourne has been conducting a vigorous campaign against the high price of bread. It has even gone !o the length of arranging for a supply of its own and opening bread depots all over the ciiv. The president, Mrs. Percy Russell, told the Age recently that one of the association's bakers, whose name had already been published in the press, had been boycotted by one of the biggest, millers in Melbourne, who had refused to supply him with flour. It was the intention of this baker to approach the miller with a further request for flour when he would proffer a cheque sufficient to fully cover the cost of the flour. Mrs. Russell added that if the required supply of flour were again refused the full facts of the position would be given to the public. " Nothing will turn us from our purpose of securing a supply of bread that may be sold to consumers at a reasonable price," said Mrs. Russell. "If bakers can supply bread to the Wometf's Hospital for sjd the 41b. loaf on contract for a year, there can be no satisfactory reason why they cannot, supply it to the ordinary housewife for Bd.

It is alleged that pressure was brought to bear on Mr. H. M. Lindsay, dairy produce merchant, of Bay Street. Tort Melbourne, to prevent him from selling bread at 8d the 41b. loaf. Mr. Lindsay told the police (hat he had received a threat that his supplies of bread would be discontinued, and that a rival business would be established near by, with the object of ruining his trade. The Housewives' Association decided to stand behind Mr. Lindsay and to supply him with bread from its own bakery. Accordingly he had been supplied with 150 41b. loaves of white bread and 75 loaves of Dr. Dale's wholemeal bread for retailing at 3d the loaf. The association ha"; secured another bakehouse for the production of wholemeal bread and all the depots will be well supplied. Mrs. Russell has been most gratified at the steadily increasing demand for the bread.