BREAD PRICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1920, Page 4

BREAD PRICE.

LARGE INCREASE PROBABLE, stale bread roa ECONOMY. FLOUR BIJPPLV ASSURED, The report that the Government la» tends next year to withdraw the jwsent flour subsidy o£ between £4 afci £5 per ton, combined with the arrangement witli the wheat-growers to j&y tliom on the basis of the export rjilue of wheat during next season, was 9«ntioned to a New Plymouth yesterday by a 'Daily New* reporter, but tlierS is little information available locally on the subject. If such, however, be the intention, there can be little doubt that the ytyea of flour must considerably incrUM after March next, and the email loaf of bread may reach double figures. ? The suggestion that baiters be pelled to manufacture 80 per cent, bread (that is of flour containing 20 jper oept. , of wnat ig now Bold as pollard) is lot seriously entertained toy those camnktent to judge. Pollard is worth, rougßj, r two-thirds of the price of. flour, so while such a mixture.' would i,not be palatable to the great majority of consumers, the blend would not, malsrlally affect the price* of the loaf, an<J would, of course, accentuate the prstfoi scarcity of pollard, resulting in a shortage of those foodstuffs whkh dejtnd on pollard for their, production. ~ . > The idea that bakers shoal! rstyin bread for twenty-four hours after biking is now under consideration by tlia Board of Trade, and will probably be adopted. : 1,1 An regards supplies of flout, tfc# o#*> ernment has fixed the price at £l6 10s f.o.b. South Island ports until the end of February, and from inquiries mad* locally it appears that most of the , Taranaki bakers have contracts! for their requirements on this basil until the end of December. The gnosis have also protected themselves by purchasing ahead-, but if the public ffut> to rush supplies, with' the idea of hoarding. a shortage must automatkaty'be < paused. Though certain millers who ne- • gleeted tc secure sufficient supplies of ' wheat are already in a difficult poeition, as are those dealers who to look ahead, there is nothing MUtp in the position for the next .few IOOBthS as far os the public is concerted. 1 The question is: Has the Wlltyt (Jontroilev enough wheat in sight to last over January and Februaryf If,not, he is faced with either compelling the consumer to restrict consumption- 1 accordingly or to buy sufficient wheat to i make up the shortage. If the latter alternative • is necessary, appafls% k« must look to Australia, whqrs 'at test advices they were getting 16s for their exportable wplus. The pt>e*cut price of flour is based on wkwt St about 7* fid a. bushel. Imported Wljwit would, therefore, necessitate' bread prices. Potato flour has been discussed, twit the necessary machinery is not available, sind even if it were imported, there is no guarantee potatoes will then he pvailahio at suoii a Wiee as to make the suggestion practice; STALK OR FRESH BREAD? QI'ESTIOX BEFORE CABINET I (By Wire, —Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, Last Night. The Board of Trade has considered tlis , desirability. •>f prohibiting the sato of . new bread m view of the possible short- » age of wheat and flour in the Dominion laier in the year. It is believed that an appreciable economy could bs effected , by ri'i|iiiring the bakers tn deliver sidlo bread to their customers: ' . ' .The improved prospects of importations of wheat from Australia, where a particularly good <•:•«,• is .reported, make* h likely., however. thai the restriction uii! not be fjieffect to. Tilt iugprestitia lias bern roiVrrcd to.Cabinet, and . .Ministers are not disposed to. prohibit the delivery of Ibo now and crusty. I Oat unless an actual necessity for .economy is proved to exist,.