AGY-5196 | Royal Commission into the Price of Bread

Full description

Sir Herbert William Gepp was appointed Sole Commissioner to inquire into and report on the maximum prices of bread in NSW, and also what should be the different maximum prices of bread, in regard to differences in quality or manufacture, conditions surrounding manufacture, sale or supply, including the cost of flour or other ingredients used in the manufacture of bread. (1)

At the time of his appointment, Sir Herbert William Gepp was also the Chairman of the Commonwealth Royal Commission on the wheat, flour and bread industries, which had taken evidence in the City of Sydney regarding the bread industry in August and September 1934, with accountants appointed to collaborate in carrying out the financial investigations. (2)

The First Report regarding the Metropolitan area of the City of Sydney includes illustrated graphs and statistical diagrams, including cost and price data of flour and bread, wages and hours worked (3), summary of production, distribution, and administrative costs (4), costs of manufacture and distribution and average selling price of bread (5), with an estimate of the distribution of the production of bread, an analysis of sales, and an analysis of expenditure. (6) Recommendations for the maximum prices for bread were set out in a table, which included production, administration, and distribution costs, plus an estimated average selling price. (7)

The Second Report conducted investigations in Broken Hill, Newcastle, East and West Maitland, and the towns of the South Maitland coalfields, with accountant staff examining the books, vouchers and trading records kept by bakers at Broken Hill, and a selected cross section of the other towns. (8) The Report found that no excessive or undue profits were being made by master bakers, and that the prices charged for bread were fair and reasonable. It was noted that upon completion of the Commonwealth Royal Commission with results from all states examined and reviewed, a systematic re-organisation of the industry could result, with a possible reduction in costs, and with a comprehensive report prepared regarding the maximum price of bread. (9)

Endnotes
1.Parliamentary Papers 1934-35, Vol 3, Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Bread Prices in the State of New South Wales (Metropolitan Area), p.787
2.ibid, p.791
3.ibid, p.796
4.ibid, p.799
5.ibid, p.810
6.ibid, p.816
7.ibid, p.820
8.Parliamentary Papers 1935-36, Vol 3, Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Bread Prices in the State of New South Wales (District of Broken Hill and certain Industrial and Mining Areas of the County of Northumberland), p.777
9.ibid, p.778.