PRICES OF BREAD AND WHEAT

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 12

PRICES OF BREAD AND WHEAT

(To the Editor.) Sir, —In the corespondence on the Increase in the price of bread, which you have permitted to be published, I have not seen any particular reference made by bakers or consumers to the price of wheat and flour in New Zealand. The bakers in their defence of raising the price of bread have not alluded to the incontrovertible fact that by legislation passed by the Reform Party, v unaniended by the United Party, and uncombated by the Labour Party, the price of wheat in NewZealand is artificially bolstered up*io from 40 to SO per cent, above the world's Purity. The price of flour is correspondingly inflated, and the price of bread is, jof course, largely governed by the price lof flour. , The self-reliance policy in regard to wheat production is a good policy—providing'it is not too expensive. It is inordinately expensive for New Zealand consumers. Wheat grown in this country is selling at approximately 6s per bushel, and wheat—better milling wheat—is selling fci Australia ou the world's price level at round about is. As one of your correspondents has already pointed out, this is no time for the bakers to increase the cost of living, nor, I would add, should the wheat grower and floiirniiller continue to. exact from 40 per cent, to 50 per cent, niore for their produce than it is worth! if exported to world markets.—l am," etc., .■...;: ■ CEREi§. (To the Editor.) Sir, —I have followed with some interest the correspondence on the above subject, hoping someone would state the truth about the trade, but have waited in vain. My belief/is that if we had more honesty among the customers we would have cheaper bread, also other commodities. Credit is the greatest cause of dear bread. I know of the numerous cases of bad debts with which the bakers have to contend. There is a class of people who never pay anything they can evade, and they are not all uuemployed. While we'have these in our midst we will have dearer oomniodities, because those who pay have to pay for the people who won't pa>\ I agree with one of your correspondent's views on racing taxation, because racing and dearer bread are very closely connected. Quite a lot of people owing money for bread take it to the races. I£ wo could' start an anti-credit society -we should do New Zealand a service.—l am, et°" . FAIR PLAY.

Children's Day on Saturday at Kirkcaldie's in the Main Tea Room, with a completo change of programme, include ing items by pupils of Miss Edna Put* die. KeseTvations are recommended.-*! Advfc.