PRICE OP BREAD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 134, 2 March 1920, Page 7

PRICE OP BREAD

INCREASE MADE YESTERDAY

NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT YET

The price of "bread was advanced yesterday in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurchby twopence per-four-pound loaf. The increase was accompanied by a corresponding rise in tho price of Hour. This addition to the cost of living has drawn protests from many consumers. The two-pound loaf now costs 6(1. over the counter and ,6Jd. delivered. Tho increase in tho price'of bread and flour followed tho arrangements made by the Board of Trade in Christchureb last week, after consultation with the representatives of the wheat-growers and millers. Two'members, of. tho board, Messrs, Mac Donald and Hart, arrived in Wellington on Sunday, and they conferred with the Prime Minister after ■his return from Auckland yesterday, "Mr. Massey is president of the board, and its recommendations are made to -Cabinet through him.

''The Prime Minister told a Dominion reporter last evening that ho was not yet ready to make n statement regarding the new arrangements: The matter required further consideration.

• Speaking-in Auckland on Sunday, Mr, Massey said that the Board of Trade evidently had sanctioned air increase in (lie price of flour by £3 a ton, and in the 'price of • bread by 2d. per 41b, loaf. It also proposed that the subsidy to the millers should be continued at the present rate of £1 ljs. 6d. a ton. The rmestibn whether consent had actually been given was referred to. Mr. Massey, .as president of; the board, and he stated, according to an Auckland telegram, that the increase would not be definitely settled until he discussed the matter with the board.