FLOUR DISTRIBUTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18875, 30 May 1923, Page 7

FLOUR DISTRIBUTION.

MASTER BAKERS’ GRIEVANCES THE METHODS OF DISTRIBUTORS, LTD. / A great deal of dissatisfaction is expressed by a section of master bakers in Otago with the ntethods which have bedn introduced by Distributors Ltd. in controlling the sale and distribution of hour. Within the past few days this dissatisfaction has been increasing, and a representative of tire Otago Daily Times, who ' has been in touch with some of those who have suffered inconvenience and loss, has been supplied with data in support of the: complaints which they make. It is necessary in the first place' to state that prior to the, formation of Dia tributors, Ltd., master bakers purchased those brands of flour which were most suitable for their particular trade in such lots as their business required. They dealt direct with the millers, and buyer and seller became well acquainted, with the result that well-established business relationships grew up. The formation of Distributors, Ltd., has altered all that. Bakers are now required to order all flour supplies through the new organisation. Certain bakers have endeavoured to maintain the old relationships, but under the new arrangement millers are compelled to refer all customers to Distributors, Ltd. ■ Those v bakers who have in the past been uging a certain brand of flour oer who have worked with certain mixtures and established in consequence a standard product do not take kindly to the changes to which they are compelled to submit , under the new dispensation. One of their grievances arises out of their inability to procure the brand or brands of flour winch they desire. In this connection bakers affirm that in some instances, when they have failed to procure the flour they desired to purchase, they have been supplied instead with “hot” flour from other mills—that is, flour fresh from the rollers, and not suitable for the immediate manufacture of bread. At the same time it has been reasonably clear that large stocks of flour of the brands they desired were stored in the mills where they are produced. The arrangements entered into between Dis-. tributors, Ltd., and the millers mean- mpractice, it is alleged, that the miller for whose product there the smallest demand can rest assured that his .“quota* of flour will be disposed of, for the reason that all '“quotas” must be placed before new “quotas” are opened. This arrangement certainly does not meet with the approval of those bakers who are particular about the standard of their output. . This method of disposal of flour cuta across all old-established customs. One of the effects of it is that bakers who have been in the habit of using Oamaru ■ flour because of the baking qualities which . caused them to regard it with special favour, have experienced an amazing difficulty in obtaining supplies, of it. It haa freauently happened that they have been offered something else which they did mot want, and in some cases monetary loss' aa well as inconvenience has resulted. In practice a baker forwards an order to the Dunedin office of Distributors, Ltd., but it is alleged that orders are generally dealt with in Christchurch. This involves delay, and when a baker is expecting hia consignment he may instead—at a data when remonstrance would be impossible—receive advice that he cannot have what ho wants, and be offered • some other brand. In odd cases orders have even been varied in regard to brands. >; apd quantities after having been accepted. Another grievance arises out of the recent advance of 10s per ton in, the price of Oamaru flour. lor a considerable number of years Dunedin and Oamaru flour has been sold at a uniform price. It is alleged that the action of Distributors, Ltd., in now raising the price of Oamaru flour is for the purpose of discouraging the use of this article in favour of some other. If, as is alleged, wheat is imported from as far north as Ashbiirton by Dunedin millers then there does not appear to be a sufficient reason for the advance in price. Whether it is justified or not there is a marked disposition among master bakers to resent it. The difficulties are common to both city and country bakers, but the new arrangement for flour distribution presses much more heavily on country bakers than.on those in Dunedin, and our representative has learned of several cases of annoyance and hardship suffered by bakers in* the country towns. In one case a southerncountry baker sent an order for two brands of flour tp Distributors, Ltd., but was informed that the northern flour which he required was not available, for two or three -weeks. As a matter of fact he was told that no northern flour wag'to be had, but on persisting in his deirtand he was offered a proportion of northern and southern flour. Two brands-'‘“of northern flour were actually offered him,, but when he offered to take both he was informed, that he must also take southern flour with it. His indignant question is, “Why must I take what'l don’t want in order to get what I do want:” If, he says, a customer came into his shop and asked for a loaf of white bread he could not rightly insist that unless a loa-f of brown bread was also purchased he would not supply the white loaf. When he pressed the matter with the individual j miller, whose flour he did want, the reply, 1 I’eceived was as follows:—“Our arrangement with Distributors, Ltd., gives them the sole right to sell our flour. We can- j not deliver without paying heavy penal- ! ties,- but we think Distributors should meet you.” One of the dissatisfied country bakers has placed the matter in the hands of the member of Parliament for his district. The correspondence in his case shows that the managing director of Distributors, Ltd., is inclined to blame the bakers for not placing their orders early. It is neces- j sary, says the managing director, that j orders for the month specifying the quantity of the brand Required should reach his office not later than the 7th, and it is asserted that if this information is furnished by this date every endeavour will be made’to supply the brand desired. This reply, it will be observed, does not amount to an undertaking to give bakers who comply with the desires of Distributors, Ltd., the brands they require, for . “every endeavour” may not be sufficient. Moreover, our representative has been supplied with data relating to case where an order was placed seventeen days before the 7th of the month and the order was not fulfilled. The erratic methods of delivery to country bakers certainly seems to have been the cause of grave inconvenience. The facts, as communicated to us, constitute grounds for an investigation of the , methods employed by Distributors, Ltd. Mon who have for many years conducted successful businesses feel very much aggrieved that they should be subjected to conditions that are at once irksome and vexatious. During the war the business community suffered severely from the enforcement of restrictions of various kinds which interfered with the free course of unfettered trade. The question, arises as to the wisdom in present circumstances of maintaining any harriers to freedom in internal trade. If traders submit without protest 'to conditions which are detrimental to their business interests there can be less real objection to similarly harassing restrictions if enforced by Government or departmental control.. It may be necessary, or even wise, to. distribute flour through one agency, but if such a method either increases the price of the product to the consumer or unduly hampers business or increases business costs the need arises for careful inquiry into those practices.