Bread Dearer.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XIX, 7 November 1903, Page 58

Bread Dearer.

MASTER BAKERS' SCHEME. A SLIDING SCALE OF PRICES. The members of the Auckland Master Bakers’ Association, 70 in number, have decided to raise the price of bread by Id on the 41b or large loaf, and the increase comes into operation on MondayThe principal reason assigned for this step is the high price of iioiir, but the bakers urge also in justification of their case that practically everything they use has gone up in price within the last twelve months or so. The position from the master bakers’ point of view was explained to a “Star” reporter last week by Mr. M. H. McCarthy, of Wellington, the secretary of the United Master Bakers’ Association. Mr McCarthy had been deputed by the . Auckland branch of the association to put the facts before the public, so the interview may be taken as an official expression. “I accepted the invitation of the 'Master Bakers’ Association to remain behind after the Bakers' Conference,” said Mr McCarthy, “to reorganise the bakers of Auckland. I found the trade in a demoralised state, bread selling as low as 2d to 3ld the small loaf. Nothing less than 3Jd could pay the baker on the present price of flour, which is now ruling at from £lO 5/ to £ll 5/. My efforts at organisation have been completely successful, and we have now an

association in which is included everv baker in the Auckland district, the total number of members being C 9 or 70.” “We have had two meetings this week, and at the last we decided to confirm a resolution to raise the price of bread from November 1, to 7d the 4ib loafThis means, taking the current average price, an increase of Id on the large loaf and Id on the small one ’’ “What are the reasons for the Increase?” our reported asked. “The present price does not pay.” replied Mr McCarthy decisively. “Wages are higher for bakers,” he explained, "the materials used in manufacture are higher, horse flesh is dearer (affecting the price of delivery), and even horse feed is dearer than it was six or twelve months back. You know, the delivery of bread is more expensive in Auckland than in many Southern towns because of the hills. In Dunedin one cart can deliver 350 loaves per day, but in Auckland 200 is a very good average." Mr McCarthy then made an explanation which shows that the bakers have agreed upon a kind of sliding scale to follow the fluctuations of the flour market with the price of the loaf. “Hitherto,” he said, “the price of bread has been regulated on the basis of the 21b loaf, but in the future it will be on the 41b loaf basis, the object being to enable the Auckland bakers to follow the fluctuations of the flour market more closely so that when flour drops £ 1 per ton they can at once give the public the benefit by a reduction of Id per 41b loaf Under the present arrangement o f the 21b loaf basis the baker could uni afford io drop Id on the small loaf on a £ 1 reduction in flour, and the new scheme will make things much faire; for the public and save a lot of cutting. The “eutter” is an abomination in whntevei trade he is. and we hope to minimise that difficulty. It is not in the interests of the community,” Mr McCarthy concluded, “to support the ‘cutter,’ because he cannot pay 20/ in the £, and I appeal to the public to be fair and honest in the matter and assist the bakers in carrying out a scheme which will be fair to all,parties.”