PRICE OF BREAD

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 139, 8 March 1920, Page 7

PRICE OF BREAD

NO CHANGE ,IN POSITION

THE CONSUMERS' POINT OF VIEW ' Bread is still being baked and -sold in Wellington, but at the price fixed by the master bakers, and not at the price announced by tho Prime Minister. Tho bakers still eay that if tho Government insists upon tiio lower prices they will close down. ' - An interview between representative master bakers and the Prime Minister is being arranged, and at that interview, or as the result of it, the issue between the bakers and the Government should be determined in 601110 way, WELFARE LEAGUE PROTESTS. The Welfare League makes protest" as follows:— "If the reports appearing in the Press are to be relied on—and'we have .110 reason to doubt their correctness—then the masteV bakers of Wellington seem, to us to bo acting very wildly in talking strike Tight away on receipt of the information that their increase of Id. per 21b. loaf was countermanded by Mr. llassey. Wo do not know whoso estimates are. right, biit we take the earliest opportunity of protesting very'emphatically against ,tho master ■ bakers' strike talk. Where on earth is 'air. this sort of thing going to end if' on every occasion when parties are dissatisfied with •terms offered, they are'-going to threaten to hit the public. Here is a body of employers who are indulging in the same kind of talk that they condemn the labour unions for adopting at times, It is snrely most reprehensive that this should occur. What sense of responsibility have the Wellington master bakers to shout 6trike in tho ears of the public before even tho delegates from various districts have got together and conferred? It simply is idle talk for Mr.- W. A. Kellow to tell us that 'the consumers seem satisfied' with the higher price put on by the master bakers. The consumers have no option, a 9 they must have bread, and therefore, take it that there is ■no use of talking. Mr. G. J. Clarke, secretary of the. Wellington Master Bakers' Association, tells a Press reporter: 'The Wellington master bakers, of course, have decided now to close-up if they have to reduce prices, in accordance with Mr. Mass'ey's < statement.' Meantime- the Auckland association appears to have accepted Mr.' Massey's reduced price' under protest, which shows a good deal more common sense and consideration for their customers. /'

"The cry of 'strike' and other methods of bailing' up the public on every occasion 'of a dispute is netting on the people's nerves,, aud when wo find employers; at jt_ as. \vell as employees, we are justified in condemning. this method of'adjusting the problems we .are all faced with. We simply do not believe that tile master bakers of Wellington would have been Turned- if they sold at the lesser' increased price , for a short time, and, therefore, the master bakers should have held their tongues-on the question of 'closing down' at lenst until .further negotiations had taken place. -It. is enough to make reasonable people angry to see the rashness that is being exhibited. We find men on all sides acting like naughty children. 'The moment they cannot get what they want, or are crossed in any way, "they cry out and want to break things.'

"Mr. Clarke seeiiis to imply that Mr. Massey ha 9 acted hurriedly in fixing the lesser' increased price, but the higher price has been demanded of the public, and the master bakers lost little time in charging the higher rates. There is one point in this bread controversy that requires very full attention. : Mr. W. A. Bellow Says: 'The cost of' delivering alone was l}d. per loaf.' If that is so, it is a. positive disgrace to our organising ability. Think of a cost of Hd. for delivering an article costing 6d! If this Is all that has been done up till now in the economy of distribution a great change is required in a service on which the public depend so much."