1 NOVEMBER 1884, Page 3

Paris is, it appears, vexed with the same problem as

London, —the failure of the price of bread to decline with the price of flour. So great is the discontent caused by the present price of the manufactured article, that the attention of the Govern- ment has been attracted, and the Prefect of the Seine has asked the bakers to reduce their rates. He hinted, moreover, that if they did not he might be compelled to re-establish the Assize of Bread— the law of the maximum—which, under one form or another, has been in force from 1793 to last year. The bakers, however, who form a strict Trades Union, have refused the request, by a vote of 341 to 204, alleging the odd reason that, as there are more bakers than there used to be, they must charge more. We suppose that means that the area of sale for each baker has been reduced ; but it is curious political economy. The odd fact is that neither in Paris nor London do we hear of large companies founded to sell common bread, though, if the profit be as great as is represented, that must be a fair outlet for capital. May not capital be jest a bit of a fool, as Sydney Smith said Consols were ?