THE PRICE OF BREAD AND FLOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12278, 15 February 1902, Page 4

THE PRICE OF BREAD AND FLOUR.

TO THE IDITOII. Sin,—Regarding Mr ,lames Patrick's " statements of the four-ton bread trade in Dmiedin," pnblisbcd in your i-sue of yesterday, T think before the public can be in a position to judge of the correctness anil value of these figures they should ho analysed. As a layman, the following question.; appear to me to be pertinent : — Does it require thro men to make and hake ?030 loavc.s of bread a week? or three men, four horses, and three carts to deliver 2GSO loaves a week? Could they not make and deliver a mar greater number? Is 30s a week the rent for a bakehnii-'n (and stable), in which only four tons of flour can he worked up? If not. should we not take total capacity of bakehouso into consideration? Do tools end rf-nairs to work four tons of Hour a week really cost 6" a week, or £15 12s a year! Dors it cc?t £1 17s a week to feed and lier four horses, mid Ps a week to shoe Ihom: and £52 a year for wear and tea of carts? Does p baker lose 25s in bad debts on every £60 worth of bread he sells? f think if the above items are carrfullv inalv.-rd it will be found that Mr Patrick ha." been "drawing the long bow," and there, v.ould he a very different row of figures to nlnco before tho public, and heads of .'amibes will soon be considering tho advi-abibtj of gel ting their flour from Auckland, where the 41b loaf, made from southern Hour, i= bring sold (or Sd, while we are paying 6d for the stnno nrtielo, made (rom flour manuf.uinred from wheat grown ;u our very door. Surely, Sir, there i« wthmg "rotten in ih.' state of Denmark."—! am, no., Patkhfamimab. Oamaru, February 14.