The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 25, 1902. THE PRICE OF BREAD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 349, 25 February 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 25, 1902. THE PRICE OF BREAD.

By advertisement in another column the bakers of Gisborne and country districts notify an increase in the price of bread as from the Ist March. This step has been forced upon them in consequence of the further advance in the price of Hour and the shortening of the terras of credit by the Millers’ Association. The price of a 21b loaf after the date stated will be 3.J-d net for cash or weekly accounts, and 4d for monthly accounts, less live per cent, in the latter ease if tho account he paid by the 12th of tho following month. Accounts not paid by tho 20th of tho month will not bo continued. Setting aside the question as it affects tho Millers’ Association, wo think the bakers are to be commended for the stand they are making against the present .credit system. Indeed it would be a very good thing for the community in general if their example were followed by the butchers and storekeepers. From what wo can hoar tho bakers in this town have been a long suffering people. In regard to tho staff' of life it is difficult to maise a refusal when people ask for credit, bread being a necessity and not a luxury. The result has been that tho bakers have made heavy losses in addition to which the cash customer has had to pay more than his fair share to enable businesses to be carried on. Necessarily consumers will have to pay more ori account of the nttitudo of lhe Millers’ Association in raising tho price of flour, but the cash customer will have the satisfaction of knowing that he is reaping a substantial advantage by his prompt payments, while a complete barrier is set against tho practice of running up an account, and then seeking further credit from the others. Under the present system, loss credit will be given, and it will not bo possible to run up debts with different bakers. Thus those engaged in the baking trade will be enabled to run their businesses on sound linos, and tho consumer who pays cash will have an equivalent benefit. If tho same system coull bo applied to all classes of trade in the community, business would flourish more than it does, and tradesmen would have a great load of anxiety lifted from their minds, a great deal of waste labor would be avoided, and the people generally would be able to obtain their goods at cheaper rates.