The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-26

West Haven, July ga critical
ihortage Of sugar is slowing up pro-
iuction of bread and other bakery
aroducts in this state, with appeals
or relief as yet UNDECIDED by gov
srnment rationing authorities, the
Connecticut Bakers Association, Inc,
announced today.
Fred Wolfe, Jr., president Of the
bakery owners organization, which
has It's state Office here, pointed out
that under once Of Price Admins
tration regulations, bakers are now
entitled to only 10 per cent of the
sugar they used during 194l, al
though the demand for baked foods
containing sugar has skyrocketed
since then. He explained that the
principal reasons for the growing
demand are the rationing or scarcity
Of other foods and the steady decline
In home baking by housewives who
have war jobs.
Loss Of Manpower
Seriously handicapped by loss Of
manpower and the maze of govern
ment regulations as well as in
gredient shortages, the industry has
performed near-miracle in main
saining peak production thus far"
Mr.. Wolfe said. He added that it
vas question how much longer
bakers may be able to carry the pres
ent load without substantial relief.
Charles Barr, executive secretary
of the bakers association and the
Connecticut Food Advisory Com
mittee, returned recently from
Washington where he placed the
facts about manpower and in
gredinent crises before representa-
lives Of government agencies.
"For the past II months" the sec
rotary said, I'VE have been urging
more reasonable allotment of
sugar. We have presented this prob
lem to the OPA, the War Food Ad-
miniStration. the Food Distribution
Administration, the Connecticut
Food Advisory Committee, the State
War Council, our congressman and
senators and everyone else we could
think Of Except for small increase
granted Hartford county because of
Its population growth, results have
ben nil so far, in spite OF optimistic
reports from Washington concerning
the nations sugar supplies
; With the demand for bakery prod
Mcts OF a record high level, Con-
necticut has fewer bakeries today
than at any time in the past Is
years, the association statement de-
rlared. AS Of July 16, 1913, the
State Dairy and Food Commission
reported issuance Of 672 licenses for
bakery operations. OF these about
400 are COMMERCIAL bakeries, while
the remainder are hotels, reStau-
rants, clubs and institutions which
do their own baking. The present
total of 672 compares with 909 at
the beginning of 1912 and 1902 on
July l, 1893, at the bottom of the
depression.
No Extra Allowance
The association, representing more
than 80 per cent of the 400 CONNER
cial plants, pointed out today that
bakeries which are still in opera
ton are serving the customers of
the plants which have closed, in ad-
dition to their own regular trade.
But, 1t was emphasized, the allot-
ments Of sugar and other rationed
ingredients of the remaining plants
have not been increased. The asso-
citation has been urging adoption by
OPA Of plan whereby the quanti-
ties Of rationed ingredients formerly
used by plants now closed may be
"reallocated" among the surviving
establishments in order to correct
this obvious inequity. However, 1t is
contended that such reallocation
will help only little-that need for
q substantial increase in basic al
lotments will remain.
Distribution of bakery products
has been seriously handicapped by
the manpower problem, truck mile
age restrictions and the scarcity Of
new vehicles and parts, the asso-
citation reported. Curtailment of
bakery fleet mileage to conform with