PRICE OF BREAD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 138, 6 March 1920, Page 7

PRICE OF BREAD

MASTER BAKERS' DISSATISFIED

MAY CLOSE DOWN

Tho master bakers of New Zealand have not accepted without protest tho rnline of tho Prime Minister., that there must 1m an increase in tho price 'of, . bread of . not more than , one halfpenny per two-pound loaf, in 'consequent? :of the increased price of wheat'and flour. • A Press Association message . from Christchurchstales that the Master .Bakers! Association has-decided not-to ac- : cent the new bread prices, and has given, notice to the public that if they are to ; be enforced they will not continue to, bake bread. The president of the asso-. eintion states that tho "Board of Trade had previonslv riven semiofficial assurances to.bakers that they could go ahead on tho basis of one shilling per 4lb. loaf. The bakers claim tliat they have been unfairly-treated. The president stated that , the bakers, do" not intend to bake bread.at the'official price fixed. AVelliwrton bakers support the view:of tho Canterbury association. Indeed, all. the associations throughout New Zealand are reported to have couio'to'the same decision, and to have determined to act •in unison.' The* Wellington master bakers held a meeting when the Prime',Minister'made his-intimation to them, ; ajiil the opinion of the meeting was that bread could not bo baked without loss at. the new prices, and that they Would be ■ compelled' to i;lose' down...if the. prices . were enforced. It is estimated .by a .lead-, inc baker in Well ingtoii that at ' the prices fixed , bv. the Pviirio Minister bread ' cannot be baked without a -loss of Al rer ton.. He said also that bakers had. been working at a loss for the past twelve months. A telegram has been sent from the New Zealand Association to tho l'rime Minister. advising hiin of the position, and : this telegram lins been, received by Mr. ■Alassey.-' -In replv to inouines about tlio position yesterday, Sir."Mawey- said that : he cxDect'ed ■ that he would be going ■ fullv into tho matter with representatives of the bakers, and this lie was .prepared to do at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime ho would" not make any Dublin statement on the matter. An effort is being made by'the'master b,-Jeers To arrange for a representative deputation to discuss hie difficulty with the Prime Minister, but it is probable that, the bakers win not' be able to assemble their representatives before Wednesday next.

THREAT FROM. NEW PLYMOUTH. By, Telegtaph—Press Association.. ;■ New Plymouth, March 5. Dissatisfaction, with the new prices of tread is expressed by the chairman of the Tarannlp Master Bakers' Union. A meetir-r of ft'o local linkers was held to-night. Proceedings we're not open to the Pim Jmt a reporter was assured that. tb?'.'ocal bakers: were -prepared to support -the Wellington bakers, and stop making bread. It was hoped that if fresh representations were to be made to the G-twflrnninnt, a deputation represent■fng the whole Dominion would po to Wellington to confer,.with the Prime Minister.' "' > ACCEPTANCE UNDER PROTEST. By Telegraph—Press Association. . Auckland, Maroh 5. In regard, to'bread prices the secretary of the Auckland Master -Bates'.Association states that the Government's new prices h°ve been accepted under protest, and pending negotiations- with Cabinet he declined t" make any further state, menfc until a definite decision had been reached.