FOOD CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 35, 9 February 1917, Page 2

FOOD CONTROL.

AND COST OF LIVING. SHIPPING AND WAR PROFITS. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A deputation from the City Council waited on* the Hon. J. Allen to-night, in reference to the cost of living. In reply, Mr. Allen referred to what the Government had done to restrict the price of necessities. He joined with the deputation in appealing to farmers who had suitable land to put in enough wheat for the needs of the people. As the result of fixing the price of wheat the Government had stopped any increase in the price of bread. Living was cheaper than in Australia or England, and Cabinet had done everything humanly possible to limit prices, and in some cases to decrease them. The Hon. G. VV. Russell interjected that figures compiled by the Government statistician showed that between January 1, 1916, and December 31, 1916, the cost of living, excluding rent, had only increased 7.63 per cent. This covered all the necessaries of life. Mr. Allen, continuing, said that, practically speaking, the Dominion Government had no control over freight rates, they being fixed by the Imperial Government. The shipping companies paid largely increased taxation, and he would have the figures published. The Government had no power to requisition shipping except for military purposes. In regard to taking surplus war profits, the difficulty was to ascertain what those profits were, because other profits than war profits were made. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald also spoke, pointing out the impossibility of framing legislation to meet every question. He was trying to arrange for action in regard to meat, similar to that taken in Auckland, in other places from which the request came. With reference to wheat, the p_ition to-day was they would have to import wheat before the end of the year. The action taken by the Government would safeguard the interests of the country, and was an endeavour to provide sufficient bread for the future. Next session the Government would have to introduce more drastic legislation to control the foodstuffs of the country. He was confident of that.