BAKERS' CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 63, 4 March 1908, Page 2

BAKERS' CONFERENCE.

tin. kv-N.^hl. Ahuut &ixtv .mended the i»;\nijun i.i*i ingni icma-ii'd Uy Die l lour Jiilici.-, iUtiMit io ino iciomje ueitguiiM «mu me i IT.IU- . OJ Uic UiSUiCi, Willi ri'pn.'S'.'UUll\T-: 0. .ill'.cd t»aOe>. .Mr. v.. Keiiov.. deiu ol the »:«Jiileivncc, presiildi. asui »vas Ji- Okt:\ an.i \\. J. •Jeiumig', AI.P. «; Ail. K. JJnekril-. .\iayor oi .Nn\ l')\ ninmii: K . Ativia.M'ii ana a, 11. Meed-., rejm'st'inmg tiu! Muli-iV Asociali«m: Air. M. t»ooUaeie. jueMdciii ol the hmpiuyeis Mr. I. t. Selmaekenbi.'i'g, r-jtrcMiilin* me Tarauaki Chamber ,n lummi'm'. Mr. Newton King,, who was unavoidably detained down the coast, .elegvaplieti an apology for absence. The catering was in the excellent \ iwmW of Mr. .1. \\\ Thomson, of New riunouth, who I'xwlled himself in the Jjicfrtyi-yon of hU Xux I only was the b;in4pieting hall at-

uaclivo by the decoration of the tabl"-. but a capital menu was submitted. Hi" l»reparalion of the baiujuel being all that could be desired. The attendant, too, was prompt and courteous, and the dinner was heartily enjoyed. Alter the toast of "The King" had been loyally honored, -Mr. A. Lealan.l proposed "Members of Parliament," coupling with the toast the names of Messrs. Okey and Jennings, M.LVs, w!u, though representing opposite parties, Ijoth seemed to have at heart the best interests of the people. ■Mr. Okey considered that the poli-y measures should be brought before Parliament during the recess. He also thought the Government should take the import duly oil' imported Hour and potatoes when necessary in the inter-

ests of the people, lie then dealt with . the operations of the speculators in j meals, whose operations had not at all , helped the lal'nier or the. baker or the , miller, but against - their interests ami i against the interests of the consumer ly j bringing about the high price of Jlour. Mr. Jennings, replying, said that when Mr. Okey had become an old campaigner lie would find that actualities iu Parliamentary life lell far short of the young member's ideals, lie would have liked to hear Mr. Okey on the high price of meat. (Laughter.) Mr. Keliow proposed "The Tarauaki Master Bakers' Industrial Union/' lit* said that when bakers lirst combined it was generally supposed that it was but a move io raise tl/.e price ot bread. I liat was not tin. The public had gained by the combination, for sanitation had been improved and the trade had been raised to a higher standard, and the price of bread had not been unduly raised. Mr. A. Lealand, president of the Tarauaki Union, in replying, said he hid at iirst been of opinion that combinations of this kind were merely for the purpose of extorting money from the public. He bud changed his opinion since. Ihe iormntion ot the local association had improved the trade in cverv way, aud in live years past there li.id j been only one baker's bankruptcy in I Tarannki. j 'Mi*. J. O. Lmrenson, vice-president | of the New /euland .Master Bakers' Industrial Union, proposed "The Employes* Association.' which, he said, was doing an immense amount of good by settling disputes lietween einplover and employee in amicable fashion without the intervention of the Arbitration Couvt. Mr. Hal Goodacre replied. Jle agreed ! that Ihe settlement amicably arrived at were the be,t and worked best, Jle eungraiulaied the bakers on ha\iii" ' taken step-, to check the growth of bid ( debts, lie thought combination should extend so that only those should oat and If ted who were prepared to pav and prepared tu work. Mi. Uoekrill proposed "Ihe ( 'hambtT of Commerce,which, he said, had lately asserted its usefulness, ior .commercial men had entered into its

management. Mr. Sdinai-ki'tibei-ir briclly ac-kno.v-li'lgfil the toiist. ile suit] tlmi tin. (.ivjudire against Chambers of (.'(mmicr-c -IV,lie,! to Im dying out. R,.jr»rtling the lai.iti;iki ( liaiiibei' ( ,f Conimcrt'e, it ■ iiil'i't get all tlie support it should, but probably all it deserved until it asserted ilwlf in nialters pertaining to trade. -Mr. Kdlow. in proposing "The Flour Mirers' Assoeiiitioii','' said that that a— ocuitiou and the Bakers' Association "ere kindled trades, and one could not i'\i-f without the other. Ihe operations "I the ••tvusf had checked the ■redit system. It had also stopped "i-iulitig" tactics, -Mr. Atkinson, in replying, said the Hour Miller-' Association had been tonne,l to |irot«t (he millers again-t thcms<dves, and would never be broken <'Xce)d by dissension amongst its members.

.11. A. 11. Steeds, New Plymouth agent of the association, said that, comparing it with the price of wheat, the people got bread cheaper now than !jetore the formation of the, "trust.'' other toasts were:—"The Delegates," 1 espouse by Messrs. Kcllow and Mcl'arhuid; "The Clovers' Association," proposed Ijv Mr. West, response by Mr, C. Carter: "New Plymouth Borough Council, proposed by Mr. 11. F. Allen response by ti lt . ,\| liyor , ~( )m. Visit ; , pioposed by Mr. Atkinson, reply by ■Messrs. Mel'arland and Deniiarl; ■Messrs. A Lealand and West," proposed by Mr. Denhard, responses by the gentlemen named; and "The Caterer" „ S n'T, r V' n "' ll( l°red by Messrs. A. iudd, V Perry, 11. White, T. Woodard, I. s. Johns, and Budd, jun., and recitations by Messrs. A. H. Steeds and SinJl . r - A - *:■ folding plaved th* accompaniments.