PRICE OF BREAD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 111, 13 May 1931, Page 6

PRICE OF BREAD

6d PER TWO POUND LOAF BAKERS’ CONFERENCE DECISION Alastcr bakers from New Plymouth to Palmerston North met in Wanganui yesterday in special conference. They discussed the state of trade along the coast ami decided to form an association of bakers in Wanganui. It. was also decided that steps should be taken to stop the price war that was at present going on in this district, and that the price of a 21b. loaf should be fixed at 6d (over the counter) as from next Alonday. The pi ice delivered was to be 7d without coupons, and 6s 6d with one dozen coupons. There has been no fixed price of bread in Wanganui lately, it having ranged from 4d to 6d. During a recent discussion in th'.* House of Representatives, Mr J. A. MacPherson said that all that the far mer, the miller and those responsible for transport received for the flour used in a pound loaf was sixpence. It should be possible for the baker to sell bread over the counter at lOd per loaf, and even after allowing for the payment of Arbitration Court wages ami other charges lie would still be making 45 per cent, profit. What was required in New Zealand was a Tea sonable price over the counter. There was not such need to trouble about delivery costs. Mr T. D. Burnett said there ha 1 been no time when it was more im portant for confidence to be retained in the country’s industries than at present. The wheat fanner in New Zealand was a highly efficient man, ari l ho appealed to tho House not to endanger the existence of the industry. Air J. McCombs <aid that if bread was more than lOd a loaf in the North Is’and, that was not the wheat growers’ fault. Mr Jones said tint bread was lOd a four-pound loaf in Invercargill, Dunedin. and Christchurch and cightpcnce in Wanganui.