BREAD SUPPLY CRISIS POSSIBLE IN FEW WEEKS

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 186, 19 August 1955, Page 1

BREAD SUPPLY CRISIS POSSIBLE IN FEW WEEKS

B Following the recent announcement fm Mr A. M. Smith, reported in last Rfeek's Taupo Times, that his bakery Kosiness was shortly to be closed, Kocal retailers asked the Mayor, Mr m. E. Story, to arrange a meeting Rih Mr Ray Boord, M.P. (Rotorua). Splr Boord visited Taupo on .Sunday ■pternoon last and a meeting was iield at the Borough Council Charn- | Aers, the Mayor presiding. m Those present, in addition to the KHayor and Mr Boord, were Mrs A. E& Scott, Mrs K. Reid, and Messrs J|il. Stanley (president Taupo branch, JfNew Zealand Labour Party), A. .7. IBuckleigh, J. McDonald, W. L. BradEiock, ~W. ' N. M. Morris and W. L. pHaines. I- A general discussion showed that lifr Smith's bakery was due to close |lt the beginning of October, and it Eyas stated that the general merchanidise firrn that had bought the proIperty were not interested in continuling the bakery business. The bakery ggtas at present supplying about 5000 lloaves weekly, and the second bakery | in the town, Mr Braddock's was supjlplying about 2000.

Peak demand over the busier portion of the summer season had last [year required an output from Mr : Smith's bakery of 12,000 loaves preekly, while Mr Braddock's bakery had reached peak outputs of 1500 loaves a day. Peak demand over the paext busy season was expected to be considerably higher, with the average demand over the year steadily rising. | Mr Boord said that the only permanent solution to the problem looming ahead was the establishment of another bakery, or the expansion of the remaining business, or both. As | had been pointed out by those preI sent, however, this could hardly be I brought about in the six weeks beI fore the bakery closed down. I Mr Buckleigh said he had ascerItained that Mr Shaddock, of the Ti1 rau Bakery, who had a plant with a |big -output, was willing to supply Ibread for Taupo, but that delivery | would be at Tirau at the normal pprice and that would necessitate ifreight to Taupo. That again could 1 only be done if the over-the-counter i price could be adjusted. I Carting bread in to Taupo would 1: require suitable vehicles, and oue 1 capable of carrying .3000 loaves I would be needed. He understood the I Government was still carting bread ifrom Palmerston North to Waipawa. prwhere a bakery had closed down. ft Mrs Scott stated that Mr Smith I had endeavoured to obtain approval I from the Government of a rise of ld m I per loaf, and having had no decision I had decided to close down. Mr BradI dock stated that if the trade were Imade more attractive from the price point of view the Government would find that there would be no trouble | over bakers returning to the trade. | Mr Boord said that the DepartI ment of Industries and Commerce I must have some knowledge as to reI quirements for getting bread into the I: place temporarily, arising from their experience in Waipawa. | He would take the matter up with I the Department on his return to r Wellington, and stress the urgency of | some temporary arrangement for | bread supply for Taupo, as from OcI tober 1, as well as discuss the longB — r term position. He suggested that local interests | should be to endeavour to publicise l the opening existing for the establishf ment of a. bakery. Meantime, the first need was to avoid a serious bread supply crisis when the present bakery closed down. He would adI i *

vise the Mayor, Mr Story, immediately he had received information from the Department. Mr Story thanked Mr Boord for rnaking the special trip to Taupo.