SHORTWEIGHT BREAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 18 July 1929, Page 10

SHORTWEIGHT BREAD

SALE OF FANCY LOAVES LEGALITY QUESTIONED (By Telegraph.) (From “The Mail’s" Parliamentary reporter.) WELLINGTON, 17th July. A question about short weight bread was recently raised in the House ot Representatives by Colonel T. W. McDonald (Wairarapn) who asked the Minister of Health : (1) Whether he is aware that the Department- of Public Health <m or about August 1924 entered into an agreement with the ‘Master Bakers' Federation, which arrangement purported to authorise the sale as 21l> loaves of bread of “barracoota," “corrugated,” and “pom pom” shapes weighing only lib 14oz; and that certain, other types of bread shall not exceed lib Boz. in weigjit, and that certain other loaves of bread ot ordinary composition shall not exceed lib 4oz in weight; (2) Whether he will without delay take steps to- cancel the arrangement and insist upon strict compliance with the law in the sale of bread to the people, and cause an inquiry to be held into the action of the Department of Health in regard to this matter. The Minister (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy) to-day replied : (1) I have ascertained that in 1924 administrative - measures were taken by the Department- of Health as stated. These measures were the outcome of repeated requests by the Master Bakers’ Federation for tho Department to act upon the exemption provisions of Section 26 (4) of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act.” (2) “I have held an inquiry into the action referred to of the Department and while I find that the administrative measures cited were not taken by regulation as provided under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act there is no doubt at all that the Department acted in good faith and with a view to promoting the public interest.” (3) “I have no reliable method of checking the alleged weight of loss to bread consumers as a result of the arrangement referred to.” (4) “I propose to review and reopen the whole question without unnecessary delay with a view to restoring constitutional practice and to make the position more satisfactory as between buyers and sellers of bread.'”