FOOD & EXPLOITATION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 151, 28 June 1915, Page 7

FOOD & EXPLOITATION

THE TIME FOR EQUAL SACRIFICE. DRASTIC ACTION NECESSARY. LONDON, 27th June. Mr. W. Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, speaking in West Hartlepoolj said that one of the first duties of the Government was to prevent exploitation of the economic situation for private gain. This was not the time for profit, hut for equal sacrifice. The price of wheat was falling. Flour must follow. He would meet the millers next week and remind them of the elementary fact that tho Government did not want to be forced to take over the whole of the food supply, but if suppliers exploit the national necessities it must act drastically. "This may be a war of finance," he said. "There may be a breakdown in that direction which will bring Germany to her knees. We have enough explosives for our own use. and some for our Allies^ but, we have not enough munitions. The pace of production, however, is overtaking the requirements, and we shall soon have enough for ourselves, the Russians, and possibly the French. Mr. Runciman declared that ho believed it possible to get tho best manhood of the nation without compulsion. Speaking hI Wcsb Hartlepool, Mr. Runciman said that a oliortage o? meat for civilians was imminent. Careful calculations showed that tliero* would be sufficient if two pounds less per head were consumed monthly, s-u miner and wintov. He added: "If tho coal-owners cannot arrange tor the limitation of the <>normciueiy high p .oal pricesi tho Government , will .<«& Jfttjrjiamcal U>.ste£ in/- _ . '