BRITISH FOOD COMMISSION

Evening Star, Issue 18926, 28 April 1925, Page 9

BRITISH FOOD COMMISSION

FORECAST OF THE REPORT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 25. The ‘Morning Post’s’ political correspondent, foreshadowing tho food report, says that it is understood that the National Food Council, working in conjunction with the Board of Trade, will be more than a statutory advisory committee. Tt will be clear that this machinery has been devised to deal with every kind of trading in foodstuffs. Shopkeepers, producers, importers, consumers, local authorities, and tho Government department will all be represented. It is proposed to five the council power to examine traders’ ooks and accounts, to issue licenses to trade in certain trades, to warn profiteers, and to obtain, if necessary, a shareholding influence in tho South American chilled meat importing trade Tho report will also advocate regular 'compulsory returns of the amount of meat in cold storage and in the course of transit to Britain.

Regarding the Moat Commission, it affirms that tho profits are high, and suggests that the butchers combine unduly to depress the price which the farmers receive. The commissioners lengthily criticise the moat trusts in North and South America, and the connection of those trusts with importing, and with the multiple shop companies in Britain. The ‘Morning Post’s’ correspondent adds that if the recommendations are of the nature expected they will not, command the support of a largo number of Conservative members of the House of Commons. bir Auckland Geddes (chairman of tho Commission) has always been somewhat inclined to State intervention since his experience with tho Ministry of Reconstruction.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ANOTHER FORECAST LONDON, April 26. It is stated that the Food Commission’s report, the draft of which has been approved, definitely recommends the creation of a food council charged with tho duty of watching prices and investigating profits. Tho ‘ Daily Express ’ says that the chairman of tho council will be a highly-paid permanent official. The council will bo able by. its influence and by publicity not only to check abuses, but to prosecute when necessary. The Commission expresses alarm at the concentration of the meat import trade in the hands of a strong group, but it states that no evidence was adduced that this power is used to the disadvantage of the public. On the contrary, group control often acts to the purchasers’ benefit, but the very existence of such power presents a possible menace. If tho menace became active tho Ministry might have to consider entering into direct competition, hut such entry in the wheat trade was out of the question.—A. and N.Z. Cable. IMPERIAL ECONOMIC COMMITTEE. v LONDON, April 26. The Imperial Economic Committee, which has been hearing evidence on behalf of the dominion food producing and marketing interests since Easter, has been split up into three panels to deal, firstly, with organisation and cognate matters; secondly, with meat; and, thirdly, with fruit. It will periodically reunite to consider general questions.—lleuten,