PROFITING BY WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 186, 6 August 1914, Page 4

PROFITING BY WAR.

INCREASED COST OF FOODgTTJFn, FAVOTJte acijlox, = , t TO BLOCK (Br Te.e S rspb.-i^ enUrT . ' ' ». . ™™S<ZKXS. Wednesday. Members of Parliament ar. « n „! ally concerned about to. "ari ßC , S*' of certain leading the House of - have been deluged with toestiaM V*i notices of motion on the I Prime Minister had not'matti * announcement of Governmental 3 1 this afternoon. ■■-non | " oan seething ** done at once-tc I morrow-m regard to the incre*£ 1 the prices of food?" aefeed afeS d & and the question was backed with It I ca ß s. tajcettM,,ih -- B^s' The Prime Minister "replied tbtf he had received representations as to ill I prospect of Britain bell* involved in I war causing a sharp rig, fo , pricW g foodstuffs, particularly flour. He had been trying to gei accurate information, so as to ascertain if there was sufficient flour and wheat in this eofatrv to list until the next harvest fie W hot been abl e to feet accurate mforn-ation, •but he bad reason to believe that tier* was sufficient wheat and flour to tupnl* tho population until next April. Id*; ever, if rt beea.-ne necessary, and if taste was evidence to show that there ihi '' an intention to exploit the comntunitt on account of what was taking place iii Europe, the Government was-prepared to take drantic action \ Members: It i? being done ho* SIR JOSEPH WARD'S SC6&Estl6x ■' " I would suggest to &« IPrraie Minis.' ■ ter.' said Sir Joseph Ward, "that he might introduce a bfli giving Govern- s ment the power to appoint a Board ot Control to regulate the price of foodstuffs. If be did so tarn sure that rarliament would pass it unanimously, the - regulation of these prices ii jrbing td hi ! a matter of exceeding difficulty with the coming of war. There 'is bduhjto •be a certain appreciation in Values of many things, an appreciation beyoM tbft cOntrOl of those who handle tooflstuls. An attempt should, therefore, be m»Jc ' to preserve the puWic intereits in the matter of food supplies. should also be done regarding the posir"-1 bility of the Calling uj> of chattel aecuri- : ties, aud mortgages. Something shbiiki, j in my opinion, be done to jrive ihe Mink, j try of tbe day power to prevent further I appreciation tban what is shown to be 1 fair and rigbt. No advantage shoirldj in, times Of this kind, be seined by people tt malte abnormal profits oat of the con* modifies in which their are dealing. So j fa r as this side of the 'House is concerned, we will facilitate tfce passage of any measure required to enarA* a proper check of the kind. I supjrest We ebouM all do what w e can to preventany 'fk- '': ■ploitation of the people as t wheii" (Hear, bear, and applause.) BUSINESS MEN CONItTLTSB. THE *R*E4iDft fO LiEGISLA-CB. ' the Prime. Minister added that '.k%. ■matter had boon already under tike'(tots"deration of the Government thatjlefiting. Some, prominent "business OH ft\ Wellington, whoso tameg he ,*•« ■»*: proposing to mention, had been eoasuittd in regard to the matter. He diatoi •know whether the House was SYrjrt that there was already provi*i6a in tit Statutes for an emergency such as bd occurred in the MondpoUe* Pr«T*ntini Act. It was provided that (the «n*t»«r of nigh pricftg caused by eomoiries eittld be referred to the Arbitration Court. : v Members: ToO slow. The Prime Minister: 1 >knoW, and Mi - is the objection. "What *c liave uantt •consideration is a special Board to look into the matter properly', and rttket recommendation to tiie GoTcrunrtt. ('Hear, bear.) V'-.->.