PROFITS AND PROTESTS

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 88, 11 October 1920, Page 7

PROFITS AND PROTESTS

Correspondents continue to write on the subject of butter and other commodities the prices of which have advanced. "Anti-Dripping" suggests that the Government should commandeer the whole output, earmarking that required for home consumption, and paying the producer 2s 2d per pound. The Government would then charge Is 6d for home consumption and 2s 6d for the exportable surplus. This would enable butter to be sold localiy at Is 9d. " But-ter-fat" asks: "Surely the butter producer comes under section 32 of tho Profiteering Act?" The producers display their affluence, the correspondent holds, in their costly conferences and huge edifices. The Board of Trade's efforts to check profiteering are described as " paltry," and much money, private and public, is expended on Commissions and Courts of Appeal on trivial technicalities. Beer is the subject of " Moderation's " protest. Bottled stout at- the bar, he was informed, had been raised in price 50 per cent., the brewers being blamed for the rise. The correspondent ascertained that, the brewers' advances are but 2j to 7 per cent. The question is asked: "Who is the profiteer in this case?"