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Press, Volume LV, Issue 16521, 13 May 1919, Page 7

HOME POLITICS.

FOOD CONTROL,

(By Cable.—Brass Association.—Copyrights (Australian and N.Z. Onblo Association.) LOKDON, May 6.

In the House of Commons, on a vote of £1,451, 700 for salaries for the Ministry of Food, the Rt. Hon. (J. H. Roberts claimed that rationing and the distribution of food had boen successful. The Ministry's trading in 1917 and 1918 showed a net profit of £132,000 on a turnover of £67,000,000. The control effectively steadied the raising of food prices, which were lower in Britain than elsewhere. During the first year of the war they rose 3 per cent monthly; since the armistice they had decreased 4 per cent, monthly. It wtis vain to hope for further great decreases, because Peace would involve opening the world's markets and subiecting Great Britain to world prices and imported articles. The Government during war-time had handled en per cent, of Britain's food and fixed tho prices of 94 per cent, of foodstuffs, only excepting luxuries. The Ministry would cease operations in November. Mr J. R. Clynes urged the retention of some form of food control to protect the people against trusts and combines. Mr Hodge pleaded for the expediting of the shipment of wheat from Australia and the Argentine, with • view to removing the burden of the bread subsidy.

agricultural research. "LONDON, May 6. The Government will spend £2,000.000 on agricultural research and education during' the next fivo years. TRUSTS AND COMBINES. (Received May 12th, 10.16 p.m.) LONbON, May 7. The Government Committee on trusts and combines reports that there is no proof of offences against the public good, but there is a likelihood that British trade combines will become a public danger, and legal power should be taken to investigate tneir working.