The Cost of Living.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3783, 16 May 1908, Page 2

The Cost of Living.

A PROBABLE INCREASE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. As a natural sequence to the rise in the price of flour, the housewife is to be called , upon to pay an increased price for bread. In Gisborne the rise to 4d per loaf has already been effected, and it is anticipated that a similar increase will very shortly take place in Auckland. From inquiries made by a Press representative this morning, it was ascertained that the committee of the Master Bakers’ Association had decided to recommend to a general meeting of members that the price of bread be at once increased to 4d. It was pointed out, in justification of this action, on the part of the committee, that when the price was lowered at the end of last year, it was generally understood that flour would continue to decrease in value. This expectation was not realised, and the bakers claim that there has never been a decrease in the price of flour, and that they have been working under the standard scale set by the conference. The present advance in the value of flour, it is contended, means that the master bakers have no option but to revert to the price of 4d per loaf.

The milk vendors claim that the suppliers were not justified in deciding to raise the price of milk at their meeting on Wednesday evening. With the old standard of 8d per gallon, the vendors assert that they were only left a margin of a halfpenny profit, and that any further demand by the suppliers must fall upon the public. The vendors will discuss the question at their annual meeting next Wednesday night, when it is considered likely that the present price per quart will be raised.

Since Australian shipments of potatoes have ceased, Auckland depends entirely upon Southern consignments, but although the market is very firm, and the recent rise of 5s per ton fully maintained, there is at present no indication of a further advance.