PRICE OF BREAD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3021, 7 March 1917, Page 3

PRICE OF BREAD

A TRADES COUNCIL SCHEME. AQetter has been sent to the ActingPrimo Minister by tho ' AVellington Trades and Labour Council regarding tho price of broad. The letter contains a proposal designed to meet the argument that tho present high' price of bread in AVellington is due in large measure to the heavy cost of delivery. The Trades Council proposes that in order to reduce this added charge for distribution power should be given to the municipality to enforce pooling in delivery. "One of tho great worries of the people of Wellington during the currency of the war," the letter states, "has been the continual raising of the price of necessary foodstuffs. Recently tho working people have been concerned about the price of bread. Whenever 'prices are raised the blame is passed along to someone else. Tho bread bakers blame tho millers, tho millers blame the farmers, and so on. The only certain thing is that prices continue to rise.

"Having in mind tho cost, of baking bread for tho camps at Featherston and Trentham, wo feel sure that the price now being charged in Wellington could be greatly reduced. The latest increase in Wellington has been attributed to tho cost of delivorv. We respectfully submit that if the Government is inclined, it is possible to so order tho broad supply of Wellington ns to reduce tho cost to tho public. . AVo suggest that it is within the power of the Government to onforce a nooling of tho interests of the rival bakers in Wellington. In this way 'much needless competition could bo abolished, and tho cost of delivery very greatly reduced. An excellent illustration of this has been given bv tho AVanganui bakers, who, by a pooling of their interests, have been able to reduce tho cost of delivery, and thus rcduco the price to the consumer. "The one danger that we see in the pooling of interests in Wellington City is the risk that the public might bo exploited after a monopoly has been procu-red. Wo respectfully suggest that it will be possible during the coming session for vou to introduce such legislation as will enable tho City Council or other local authority to take possession of tho, business if the danger of exploitation arises. In ordinary times this suggestion of ours would probably seem a verv large one, but the war has shown what wonderful alterations are possible in matters of this sort when the interests ; of th« communitv hare! to bo conserved against the unfair charges of business people. _ i, "AVo commend this for your favourablo and urgent consideration."