PRICE OF BREAD.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3432, 11 March 1920, Page 5

PRICE OF BREAD.

¢—v-—v.—:__.___‘ ______..______ MASTER BAKERS CONFER. .-\ .\lON'l‘H'>‘ TRIAL OF PRESENT: PRICES. ' WELLINGTON, March 10.

Master bakers from all parts of the‘ Dominion had :: two-hours’ interview’. with the Preniier and the Board of Trade to-(lay, discussing the allegedly: inadequate oflicial mazdimum breacl prices. Details were given of the cost‘ of production, the deputation mafn—taining that the olficial price of bread: barely covered the increased cost of flour, ignoring rises in the price 013 every other ringredient, also Wages, coal, harness, and cost of delivery, the: latter in Wellington being three-half:

pence a ‘loaf. The bakers asked for a minimum, as well as a maximum price, owing to what they called \“insall'c» cutting” by small men, who employed» their t'amilics_ .

The directtor of the W‘elli.r;gton' Automatic Bakery stated that last‘. year he “cornered” all flour required merits at £l4 10/ a ton, or below ‘the’ Government. price. This year millers told him they were afraid to cut. ' The Hon. W’. D. S. MacDonald (a.'' member of the Board of Trade) dew olared that the Government never ti:c~ ed a minimum price for flour. Lest: year’s average was £l4: 15/. ; _ Mr Massey asked the deputation *0 consider a proposal to provide details of income‘ and expenditure eonficlew tially. to the Board of Trade for 3. month, when the position could be rexiiewed. “Will you subsidise us if WC com tinue to make a loss?” asked the «"5::~« putation. i Mr :\‘lflSSC_\_': That would be asking too much. We are already subsidising flouriout. of revenue. I don ’t defentli it, and want to get rid of it as soon: as possible. The Premier added that if bakers got a shilling per 41b loaf they ree.l—ised £33 from -.1 ton of flouiycosting £l6.- It seemed to an outsider a. fair margin .Even'ina.ll_v the bakers retired to consider :1 proposal to accept the Board’s. price, keep accounts for a. month, and Hso prepare details to substantiate their claim for a further allowance for delivery.

VVELLIN-GTON BAKERS AGREE. TO ONE MON’TH’S TRIAL.

XVELLINGTON. This Day

Following on Mr Massey’s sugges~ tion the master bakers have agreed to charge the following prices for breaa for one month: Cash over counter, 5.1_,d; wholesale. 6d, less two and 8. half per cent.; private delivery sixpence farthing.