THE PRICE OF BREAD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 8, 7 December 1883, Page 2

THE PRICE OF BREAD.

Trt-THE EDITOR OF THE SOST. - ;:: Sir— We have beard lately a good deal about certain "Rings" in/Wellington, and the . baleful effects they are supposed to hare on our political life. There are.otjier " Rings'! howover, tbas carry (in tiieir operatiohs openly, swnose^5 wnose^ injurious effects as regards the public ~are far more apparent^"and"'-yebzm-notice seems t to be, taken. q§. , them. I refer to the*" Tradesmen's |lvery now and then*)we see a mysterious advertisement in the papers convening a meeting of milkmen, bakers, or butchers, as the ease may be, " business important." A fe^daysiater we see another advertisement— not 3 at all mysterious this tittle— «%ouncing that the price o£ milk, or Uread, or meat, as the case may be, -has ..been raised. Never, within the^membry of the oldest inhabitant, I believe, has the price ever been stated to have .been hw&fjid. The latest development of this "ring" business lis •.< that v the bakers, having; been compelled by the -legislature to give proper weight— -wftich, -by the -way they are good enough. ;to consider " a vexatious restriction"-r-thoy have raised the price of2lb loaves .to 4d, whether/ for cash or booked. Previously the: price was generally B|d cash and 4d booked. The humour: of this joke is indeed excruciating., Why the bakers being « vexalfousLy'^corapelled tor give good weight should visit their.' veseritr> mont on the heads) of their good, cashpaying customers, and let off scot-free their long-credited . client^ jspme. of whom probably never pay at all, is indeed 'mystifying^to' those not in the secret. - '"-• Probably it will surprise most people to know what the profits of bakers really are. A ton of -flour, aiscowfingj to the quotations in last Saturday's Post, can be purchased for £11. That quantity of flour, according to a moderate computation, wilt make .l44o two : , pound ioaVes, whicn at 4c] each amounts to £24! Some bakers manage .to that make more than quantity of loaves;, out' of the amount of flour speoified. Sir, I hope' the bakert^wfll not act upqn the resolution whioh we are told they passed the other night. If they do, it will be practically an admission that fhey have not been giving gocld weight iu the past, and under such 1 circuniptances a tradesman ought ' to have some difficulty in looking a eu«tomer in the face when announcing the increase. If they do act upon it, I ationgly advise yonr, readers to make Jheir own bread. It [is far nicer «n<i more wholesome, as well as infinitely cheaper, . 1 will, in- another letter, givei directions lib w to make.it, if requested I to de so, and you will kindly grant me space. — 1 am, ftc, Householder.