THE PRICE OF BREAD.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 359, 26 March 1903, Page 5

THE PRICE OF BREAD.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— On glancing over the columns of your valuable paper last issue I noticed a letter signed A., Kilgour re the downfall in the price of flour and the maintenance in the price of bread. Now, there are two sides to every argument, and in this case Mr Kilgour does full justice to his side, and, to keep up the reputation of my tribe, I feel compelled to take up the other side. To begin with, Mr Kilgour prints a telegram to the effect that flour will be down £1 per ton next load, but cannot see bis way clear to reduce bread, as a reduction of |d would mean a reduction of £1 6s per ton on flour. Now, Mr Editor, flour eighteen months ago was £8 per ton, and bread was 6d per 4lb loaf. Now with flour at £l2 10s we find bread at 9d. In the Daily Times we read that one bag of flour is equal to 67 loaves. Mr Kilgour gives us 66 loaves. As he is a practical baker, and as different flour differs in the making up, we take his estimate as correct. Sixty-six loaves to one bag of flour gives us 660 to the ton; 660 at 3d per loaf (the difference in the rise) gives us £8 5s per ton. As the difference between £8 and £l2 10s is only £4 10s this leaves the baker (over and above his usual trade profit) with a clear profit of £3 15s. Now, don’t you think it would be a good thing for the baker if flour doubled its present price if he rose bread in the some proportion as he has been doing? Now, a word re cartage and the nearness to a graingrowing district, and I will lay aside my pen. Is it not a fact, Mr Kilgour, that bakers here were offered flour from our own district at reduced rates, but they refused to buy, as this miller did not belong to the Association, so that seemingly it does not matter how far it is carted as long as it is real devout association flour; but as the price delivered here is the same as at the mill door it explodes the argument of distance from a mill, Of course the bakers may have some plea to the effect thas when flour is dear it takes more firing, or more malt, or more something, to make up the bread But of this I know nothing.—l am, &c., An Ishmaelite. Alexandra, March 23.