SALE OF BREAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 15

SALE OF BREAD

ENFORCING NEW PRICES HEAVY PENALTY FOR BREACH STALE AND FANCY LOAVES Fines ranging up to £SOO can tie imposed on any people who sell bread at prices below those fixed by the Government, according to an announcement made yesterday by Mr. S. S. Green, secretary of the Auckland Master Bakers' Association, who has returned from Wanganui after attending the annual conference of tho New Zealand Master Bakers' Federation. "On returning to Auckland I found that one or two bakers were not observing the prices as fixed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan," said Mr. Green. "The Government is determined that the prices shall be respected, and intends to make the penalty for breaches sufficiently severe. It is probable that fines up to £SOO will be imposed." While the annual conference of the master bakers was being held, the Government's new policy was announced and a deputation 'was appointed immediately to interview Mr. Sullivan and the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H T. Armstrong, and attempt to obtain further details of the proposals. Tho deputation, which included two Auckland representatives, Messrs. Claude C'owan and G. K. Mathieson, was received on Wednesday, and reported to the conference on Thursday.

Mr. Green said that as a result of the conference with the Ministers the master bakers felt that the Government was very definite in its intention to carry through its particular plan, and at the same time was sincere in its efforts to do something for the baking trade. The conference had decided to assist the Government in every way. ,

The bread prices advertised applied only to the four main centres, as it had been impossible to investigate tbe position in the country districts, stated Mr. Green. Therefore the present prices in the country districts would remain in force until further investigations had been made.

The confusion existing among bakers and shopkeepers in regard to the sale of stale bread and fancy breads was referred to by .Mr. Green, who said that stale bread was definitely included in the new price-fixing regulations, and could not be sold under the standard price of 5d a 211). loaf Fancy breads were not included as long as they were not sold to undercut plain bread prices. In the past stale bread has been sold at reduced prices, but now that this avenue has been closed the disposal of bread returned unsold from shops will present considerable difficulty. Mr. Green said that the Auckland Master Bakers' Association had already closed its stale bread depot, as there was now no use for it.

POSITION OF BAKERS NO SUBSTANTIAL GAIN The impression held in some quarters that the baking trade had gained substantially as a result of the Government's action in fixing the prices of bread and Hour was the subject of a statement yesterday by Mr. S. S. Green, secretary of the Auckland Master linkers' Association. Mr. Green said the master bakers considered the present fixed prices were id too low, and tbev had never thought that od for a 21b loaf was a sufficient return, owing to the prevalence of price cutting, and the use of bread as a drawing line by shopkeepers. The bakers had had to accept the lower price, which had meant no profit to many of them for a long period. "The original wholesale price was 4s 3d a dozen loaves under a schedule of prices forced upon the trade by price cutting," said Mr. Green. "It was never accepted by the trade as a fair thing, and now the Government itself has decided after investigation that the very minimum price will be 4s 6d a dozen."

The suggestion that bakers would now be able to buy their flour at £2 a ton cheaper was refuted by Mr. Green, who said that the price of flour before the Government's announcement was £l4 12s 6d a ton less 2J per cent. The price to-day was £l3 12s less 1-1 per cent, and the Hour had to be paid for within 14 days. WHEAT PRICES

PAYMENT TO GROWERS INCREMENTS AS LAST YEAR [ lIY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION]" CHRISTCHURCH, Friday The Wheat Committee announces that the initial payment to growers has been fixed at 4s 5d a bushel for Tuscan, 4s 7d for Hunter's, and 4s 9d for Pearl, January to March, with the same increments as for last year, commencing in April. These prices are f.o.b. growers' nearest port, sacks extra. AVheat certified as seed wheat under the seed wheat certification scheme of the Department of Agriculture in association with the Wheat Research Institute is exempted from the operation of the regulations.