THE BREAD QUESTION.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5018, 11 February 1885, Page 3

THE BREAD QUESTION.

(Io the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib,—" Practical's " letter of January 29 should have been answered before this, but some of it is almost unanswerable, so I will let such endearing epithets as "hydra," "champion," &c, with all its subtle meaning, " slide," and content myself with reviewing some of his statements and opinions. He has told us how many full-weight 41b loavea can be made to the ton of flour; perhaps he will inform us how many loaves weighing 21bs 14ozs each can be made from the same quantity of. flour. I suggest this because s supposed 21b loaf, upon being weighed lately, was found to be 9ozs short of 21bs. Even Adelaide is used! What extravagance!! The price, in Adelaide, is £7 10s, or even £8 per ton. How can the bakers possibly do it and live? (I see the'Tizer quotes Adelaide flour at £I*6; heavy freight or profit somewhere.) " Practical " speaks of my " assertion " ••to a contract* being taken in England •t 3£d as being "absurd." This is neither an assertion or an absurdity of mine, but a quotation from the Christian World/The Bristol Herald, and, I think, the Auckland Herald newspapers. The absurdity lies in the remarks made by •• Practical" re the number of loaves to the ton. I say the contractor will make from 760 to 760, perhaps more. The country flour from which this bread iB made is not of the same quality as the London article, but is, I believe, quoted at from £8 10s to £9 per ton. Ihus it will be seen that the contractor does not lose £4 3s l§d,, as stated by •< p/'—the bakers in England understand their business too well for any such "absurdity." The statement as to less expense in London than here shows how thoroughly " practical "the writer is. We ire tafed why bakers are singled out more than grocers, &c. ? My answer is became Ido not know of such extortion practised by them, and it matters little whether the profits are large or small on mustard, spice, or pills ; these things are not necessary like the " staff of life," and their cost makes but little difference in a year, whether cheap or dear. Carpenters and painters, I suppose, have to do as other working men ; if trade, is dulli they suffer the natural consequences; if they work; one week in four they only expect a week's pay, and not four weeks, which seems to be the lines the bakers are working 00. "Practical's" advice, "Start a co-operative bakery," is good; bis prognostics as to failure are false, a» I believe it would pay well; it would also show that the bakers who now charge 8d could then sell for 6d. This closes, on my part, any discussion with " Practical.''--I am, C" . Faib Tbade. 'Feb. 10th, 1885. ' P.B.—" P." says the £9 flour is often only fit for pigs. I suppose that accounts for so much of the Thames bread being of a like quality.—F. T.