THE PRICE OF BREAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1922, Page 4

THE PRICE OF BREAD.

NO EARLY REDUCTION. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Wellington, Last Night. Answering a question in the House today, the Minister of Industries and Commerce said a reduction in the price of bread may be expected when the costs of production and distribution warrant such a reduction. Present costs are such as to preclude the possibility of bakers being able to sell generally at below the maximum prices fixed by the Order-in-Council, and which are operative until the end of February, 1923. It is difficult at this time to state what effect on the price of bread the removal of the Government guaran tee for wheat will have, but if the harvest of 1923 is a bountiful one, wheat prices will probably be lower and consumers of flour and bread will benefit accordingly. The Hon. E. P. Lee made a statement as Minister of Industries and Gpmmerce on the subject of some remarks recently made by Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) regarding the price of flour. That gentleman had stated that the Board of Trade had fixed the maximum price of flour at £lB per ton, and when millers reduced the price to £l6 10s they were told by the chairman of tb.e board that they must not sell below £l3 per ton. In the course of his reply, Mr. Lee said he discussed the matter with the chairman of the Board of Trade,- who emphatically denied any compulsion was brought to bear by the board at any time during Its existence to compel millers to sell at the fixed maximum price. The chairman of the board further informed him that he had at times been requested to fix a minimum price, but he had invariably refused to recommend such a course. The Board of Trade, added the Minister, had no power to fix a minimum price, and if it attempted to do so it would be ineffective.