THE PRICE OF BREAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1920, Page 4

THE PRICE OF BREAD.

HAWKRA BAKER'S VIEW. In an interview with a Haweriv Star reporter yesterday, Mr. H. H. Clement said that the price fixed for bread, namely, lid over the counter and Js delivered, would be satisfactory if wages could remain as at present, and if the prices of all commodities usell by bakers could be kept down to the present level. The master bakers had, he said, practically pledgedthemselvea to increase the wages of table hands from £3 123 Cd to £4 10s and foreman bakers from £4 2s 6d to £f> 2s 6d—providedf tlle Board >f Trade would sanction an increase in the price of bread covering the advance in wages.

Mr. Clement was strongly of opinion that the men were entitled to the increased wages proposed, and he pointed out that their work .was very arduous and the pay unsatisfactory when compared with the rate* p:Jd in other trades. A baker did not work fixed hours, and instead of commencing at 8 a.m. and finishing at 0 p.m., like most artisans, he started at 3 a.m. and continued till all work on hand for the day was completed, no overtime being paid except in cases when special catering contracts were undertaken, With regard to the materials used lil making bread and small goods, Mr. Clement said the prices were continually moving upward, and he gave many inataneer, of extraordinary advances. Asked if he could account for the millers' decision to insist upon payment for flour within seven days, he said it looked as though they feared a slump and did not intend to bo left. The new rule was a 'hardship to bakers, who would be obliged to insist upon cash payments for bread in order to meet their obligations to the millers, It may take flour a fortBight to reach Hawera from Canterbury after an order had been placed, and he had had to pay for flour before it had been delivered, so that in practice the new rule meii(»t spot cash or cash before delivery. To provide fair wages for the men and to protect the bakers against advances in prices during the next twelve months, the period the new agreement is to run, Mr. Clement considered that the bakers will need to charge Is over the counter and Is Id delivered.