THE WEIGHT OF BREAD

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1929, Page 2

THE WEIGHT OF BREAD

MEMBER’S ALLEGATION. MINISTER PROMISES ACTION. WELLINGTON, July 17 Alleging that as a result of an arrangement between the Master Bakers’ Federation and the Health Department in 1924, bread consumers are deprived of 300 tons per annum through short weight loaves, Colonel M’Don aid (Wairarapa) put a series of questions to tho Hon A. J. Stadworthy, Minister of Health, on the subject. The Minister has replied that ti'e Department of Health took action as stated, authorising the sale as 21b loaves of bread of the “barracoota,’' “corrugated” and “pom pom’’ shapes, weighing only lib 14oz, that certain other types of bread shall not exceed lib Boz in weight, and that certam other loaves of bread of ordinary composition shall not exceed lib 4oz in weight. “These measures,” states the Minister, “were the outcome of repeated

requests by the Master Bakers’ Toleration for the Department to act, upon the exemption provisions of See tion 2G (1) of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. I have held an inquiry into the action referred to of Die Department, and while I find that the administrative measures cited -w«ve not taken by regulation, as providocf under the Sale of Foods and Drugs Act, tliero is no doubt at all that the Department acted in good faith and with a view to promoting the public interest. 1 have no reliable method of checking the alleged weight loss to bread consumers as a result of the arrangement referred to, but 1 propose to review and reopen the while question without unnnecessary dehay, with a view to restoring hflie constitutional practice and to make the position more satisfactory as between the buyers and the sellers of bread.'