COMPARATIVE BREAD PRICES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 142, 17 June 1931, Page 8

COMPARATIVE BREAD PRICES.

Question Asked in House of Commons. Sir N. Grattan-Doyle asked the Minister of Labour in the House of Commons, reports the “ British Baker,” in their issue of April of this year, how the price of a 41b loaf in Great Britain compared with that in Germany, Italy, Sweden, United States of America and Canada. Mr Lawson replied: “The latest statistics available in my department for the overseas countries concerned relate, except in the case of Germany and Italy, to December, 1930, and are summarised in the table below. In the absence of information as to the quality of bread to which the various quotations relate, it is not known how far the prices shown may be regarded as comparable one with another. The prices have been converted to sterling at the rates current at the dates to which the figures relate. Price of White Bread (per 41b) in December, 1930* Equivalent in Country Original Sterling Currency Pence Great Britain and Northern Ireland ...; 7.5 d 7.5 d Germany 1.51 R. Marks 17.78 d Italy (Rome) . 2.91 to 3.82 7.53 to Lire 9.88 d Sweden 1.36 Kroner 18.03 d United States 34.0 Cents 16.80 d Canada 26.4 Cents 13.05 d * In the case of Germany and Italy the prices given relate to July and November respectively. In New Zealand the retail cash price of a first-quality 41b loaf is Is, which, it will be seen, compares more than favourably with those countries which, like New Zealand, shut out cheap surplus wheat for economic reasons. 9