FLOUR AND BREAD PRICES.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 February 1918, Page 4

FLOUR AND BREAD PRICES.

It is most unfortunate that local bakers have found it imperative in their own interests that they should now have to raise the price of bread another penny per four pound loaf, making it one penny per loaf higher than in any other town in New Zealand. A penny rise on four pounds of bread is something very considerable, but that is not our point jiist now What is forced upon us is the fact that flourmillers are making a strong effort with the Government for a further increase in the price of flour. Millers recently met in Christchurch and came to the conclusion that with wheat at officially fixed rates it did not pay to manufacture flour at £ls per ton. In 1917 wheat cost the millers up to 5/11 for highest qualities; they say that this year similar wheat is costing them 6/2 per bushel. Orders for flour are taken by Millers now, and till the end of this month, at £ls, but they will not undertake to fill orders at that price from Ist March. No doubt the Board of Trade will fully go into the question both in connection with flour and bread. There are only a few places in which five pence the two pound loaf is charged; where it is 4J the rise in flour prices will no doubt cause bread to go in sympathy to five-pence. In Taihape the increased cost of flour will come while bread is si, and if bread does not pay at five pence now it will have of necessity to go to sixpence the two pound loaf cash over the counter, or sevenpence in the old-time way. This will bring Taihape an unenviable notoriety that will not operate ,-to the town's advantage. Why the price of flour should be increased is an enigma_ There is no shortage of wheat, on the other hand fgiere is a surplus over what is needed for consumption of fully 1.800,000 bushels. The regrettable feature here is that if bakers cannot produce the four pound loaf under elevenpence, cash over the counter now, it will of necessity have to bo increased to one shilling if the one pound per ton on flour eventuates on the first of March.