ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 722, 16 March 1853, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

THE PRICE OF BREAD. To the Editor of the New-Zealander.

Sir,—ls it not a strange anomaly that the loaf of bread is selling at Auckland at six-pence, while at Onehunga,/only seven miles distant, it is five-pence,—and still more strange that at New Plymouth, while the price of flour is £23 per ton, the loaf is only five-pence, when at Auckland, with flour at or under £2l, it is sixpence. There requires some rectification in these matters. What the price of the loaf should be is constantly ascertainable. The lOOibs. of flour turns out 68 loaves, thus with flour at £23, the actual cost of the loaf to the baker, is Ska. The potatoes used must not be calculated, as any saving to the baker, as it is but a small proportion that can be used. For private use I have always found a much larger proportion of potatoe desirable, but the bread would not have quite the same appearance to the eye. But respecting the price of bread the public have the matter mucdi in their own hands—let families make their own bread, and they will soon find their advantage m it. A public oven might soon be established in the centre of the town. It is to be remembered that the baker has to pay his expenses oi: rent, labour, horse and cart,, perhaps ; and make his own living out of this 2d. or 2\ per loaf, and of course his necessary profit per loaf must depend upon the opuantity of husiness done. But it the baker with the small and scattered population of New Plymouth, with flour at £23, can sell his loaf at 5d., it is strong presumptive evidence that (id. gives too large a profit upon an article of such general consumption. —Yours &c, Matter of Fact. Epsom Road, March 14, 1853.