THE BAKING INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22295, 22 June 1934, Page 10

THE BAKING INDUSTRY

STABILISATION OF PRICES PETITION TO PARLIAMENT (Peb United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 21.; In an endeavour to stabilise the prices and conditions in the baking industry and to put an end to the "ruinous" price war going on in some parts of the country, the New Zealand Master Bakers and Pastrycooks' Association is making arrangements for a general petition to Parliament during the coming session. To-day the local branch of the association met the Canterbury members of Parliament to explain^the petition and to gain sympathy. The bakers, it is stated, are not necessarily seeking to raise the price of bread, but say that they are faced with'severe hardships in some centres where price cutting has been practised. It was explained to the members of Parliament that the Christchurch bakers were niore or less satisfied with their position) but they would support an attempt to secure Dominionwide stabilisation. They would welcome an investigation ' of the trade by the Department of Industries and Commerce. In 76 electorates 63 petitions have already been signed and others will be completed shortly. 't On behalf of the trade it is stated that the bakers are merely seeking the right to put their house in order. They are at present debarred from acting in unison for the stabilising of the price of bread. The bakers in 'the petition state that the present unfair and uneconomic trading on the part df many resellers of bread is making it impossible for the bakers to continue in business on a payable basis.