HISTORY OF BAKING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 186, 27 October 1927, Page 14

HISTORY OF BAKING

MASTER BAKERS’ CONFERENCE OPENED BY SIR T. MACKENZIE Egyptians introduced the use of leaven in 2,000 B.C. Romans made the first water-wheel, and the Arabs harnessed the wind to grind corn. Subsequent centuries brought the inventions which now produce a flour of an excellence Tiever before contemplated. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, M.L.C., traced the history of baking at the opening of the 21st conference of the Federated Master Bakers’ Association of Australia and New Zealand yesterday. Sir Thomas emphasised the importance of the Dominion’s growing sufficient wheat for her requirements, and said that the Government had endeavoured to provide for this by a sliding scale_ of duties on wheat and flour. Laboratories for the provision of better strains of wheat were being established. The president of the Association, Mr. H. R. Burton, of Sydney, attacked the suggestion that wheat bread was the cause of cancer, saying that a medical jury, including Sir Thomas Horder, had found the bread “not wanting.” However, it was wrong to think that bakers did not want to make brown bread. They were the servants of the public. There were many problems in the production of the best kind of bread calling for the active co-opera-tion of bakers, millers and farmers. It was the business of the conference to find the solutions of the difficulties. A telegram was read from the Hon. A. D. McLeod expressing regret that he was unable to attend. The following officers were elected: President, Mr. J. McGregor, Auckland: vice-presidents, Messrs. H. R. Burton, New South Wales; E. J. Bedgood, Queensland; J. O’Brien, Victoria; D. Campbell, Western Australia; Weller Arnold, Tasmania; G. K. Mathieson, New Zealand; W. Parker, South Australia; hon. treasurer, Mr. T. Burns, Western Australia; hon secretary, Mr. T. C. Fergusson, Western Australia; executive, Messrs. H. Rowe, Perth; H. Baker, Perth; J. H. Hallion, Perth; and F. Looney, Perth. It was decided to hold the next annual conference in Perth. Mr. W. E. West gave an address on “Cost Accounts for Bakers.” and Mr. F. L. Armitage spoke on “Moulds.” The conference is being continued to-day.