The Price of Bread.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 106, 9 May 1904, Page 4

The Price of Bread.

(New Zealand Herald.) The price of bread is a subject that from lime immemorial has been of first importance. With bread cheap, even the poorest can manage to lire. Bread riots have occurred in many lands. If the price paid for bread in Auckland to-day were enforced in, say, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Russia for a month, monarchy in each of these countries would totter. Such a high price for bread.is not paid in any other country of the world in which the conditions are normal. The price in Auckland is 7d the 41b louf. Various explanations of this excessive price are given. The Dunedin Evening Star suggests that the millers' combine and the bakers' combine, working together or separately, are maintaining the price. Then it is said ' that the bakers, being enforced to comply with the Arbitration Court's awards, could not make a profit at a lew price. There is probably sonic truth in tliis excuse. ilowevw, in Victoria, there) is a Factories Act, under which the wages of bakers and their assistants have been fixed. The master bakers there must comply with the award, but they can sail the 4tb loaf at sd. What is there in the difference of latitude and longitude between Melbourne and Auckland to account for the enormous difference of about 40 per cent, in the price of a loaf of bread ? The Arbitration Court is constantly being told of the increasing cost of living. Wages must go up because food and clothing are higher, and because wiges arc up, pricps go si ill higher. Where is this constant progression of upward in prices and downward in comfort to end ? Dear bread is a curse in whatever land itis found. There was a time when the price of the loaf was a test of the ability of those administering public affairs. The world has been invited many times to admire the experiments in legislation of the Seddon Government. Never yet, however, has the world been told that the outcome of that legislation and of Mr Seddou's administration is the record price of 7d for a loaf of bread. This is a matter upon which public opinion may well be brought to bear. Tinpeople are being wronged by the millers and bakers, or the public affairs are being wholly mismanaged. There may be something of both in it, but whatever the cause a remedy should be found.