CORRESPONDENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2079, 3 January 1908, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE

[Correspondence on public matters is welcomed at all times, brft it must bo distinctly understood that this journal is in no way associated witu the opinions of its correspondents.] THE BAKERS AND THE CASH SYSTEM. [To im Editor.] Sir.—The position the Master Bakers of Gisborne have taken in regard to the cash purchase of bread, and tho total elimination of credit from their business, is such us to cause n certain amount of annoyance to housekeepers generally. One cannot help but speculate as to what the feelings of a lady would be, who had paid her bread bill for 10 or 20 years with punctuality, if owing to forgetfulness or lack for the moment of the necessary threepence-halfpenny, she end her household should bo compj'L led to leave bread from their bill-ol-farc until his highness the baker called the following day. The master bakers .seem to be under the impression that they are doing a favor to the public by supplying bread at all—a mistaken theory, as will be made plain to them unless they mend their ways. In a circular that has lately been delivered to the consumers of Gisborne they are told that the halfpenny taken off the price of eaeli loaf is the result of the new system. Nothing is said about the £.3 per ton which has been knocked off the price of flour during the past month. Tins alone was sufficient reason for the reduction, and if the bakers think cash preferable to credit they should have further reduced the price for that specific reason. Instead of that nothing is said about the reduction in the price of flour. The bakers are without a doubt playing upon the fact that bread is a necessity, and the consumer who has paid with regularity is receiving no consideration whatever, a position not to be tolerated from any class of tradesmen in the Dominion. I would suggest, through the medium of your columns, sir, that bread he a State monopoly, thus doing away with the men who take advantage of their position to browbeat the public. Ending this I would suggest to the people of Gisborne the formation of a co-operative baking association with the object of supplying bread to those who desire it on a reasonable credit basis. Those desiring to do so could take up shares in the association and the amount of their credit would he the paid up value of their shares. This system is carried out by other co-operative concerns, and has proved very effective in preventing bad debts. The formation of such an association would, I feel sure, put an end to the present insufferable position.—Yours etc., “CONSUMER.” Gisborne, January 2.