Letters to The Editor

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6173, 15 March 1948, Page 5

Letters to The Editor

HANDLING OF BREAD Sir, —I wish, through the medium of your paper, to reply to the Rev. Canon Chandler, re the handling of bread, and wrapping. Speaking for my own business, all bread is loaded on to vans on trays, and is unloaded at the shop in a similar manner. Regarding wrapping, and especially wrapping at bakery by machinery, 1 would point out that apart from machinery not being available to equip New Zealand bakeries for at least 12 months, and the cost of importing waxpaper, which would involve £IOO,OOO per year, using dollars, there is the economic side. I would like the Rev. Chandler to consider. I would draw his attention to an article in the “Herald” re flour and costs, published last week, March 12. While the baking industry is a political issue, and the industry is selling bread over the counter at 1936 prices, the industry cannot adequately fulfill its obligations to the public in the manner it should. Whatever the public may think, it is a fact that paper is to-day harder to obtain than ever, and it is due to some extent (apart from the dollar angle) to the extensive use of paper angle, to the extensive use of paper for cement, and other dust products. The baking industry is anxious to fulfill its obligations in the best possible manner, provided it is recompensed for its services. It is not fair either to quote overseas visitors as saying they are amazed at unwrapped bread—presumably they are Americans —without quoting the difference in prices. For a 21b. loaf the'charge in U.S'.A. is lid. While agreeing that all bread should be machine-wrapped, I do think the Rev. gentleman should ascertain the facts of the case before condemning the industry, on what is, after all, a political issue.—l am, etc., W. R. Collins.