COST OF LIVING

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1940, Page 2

COST OF LIVING

RISE IN BRITAIN. LONDON, March 17. An increase in the butter ration in Britain is unlikely to counter margarines tremendous inroads on the market, because the present fixed price of butter is beyond the means of the average working-class family. The increased butter ration came as no surprise, but the fact that the ration is doubled indicates that the piling up of stocks has been even greater than previously thought. The high price, of course, has made necessary the double ration. Traders estimate that the average retailer has been selling only 70 per cent, of the quantity which he is permitted to hold for registration. Sugar may incxease in price. Surabaya reports that Japanese sugar production has dropped and Japan may be seeking imports from Java. Indian production has been better than expected, but Javanese exports to Holland fell below expectations. Egypt bought heavily, apparently building up war stocks. It is noted that Canadian imports of Australian raw sugar are increasing, having reached 94,678 tons in 1939 compared with 43,991 tons in 1938 and 80,310 in 1937. ACCUMUATED STOCKS. BRITISH BUTTER AND BACON RATIONS INCREASED. RUGBY, March 18. The stocks in hand and in sight, which were low when the rationing of butter was first introduced, have steadily accumulated since, and, with imports from New Zealand and Australia now reaching their peak, the doubling of the ration as from next Monday is regarded by the Ministry of Food as being amply justified. The stocks of bacon available are also considered satisfactory, and supplies have been coming in extremely wed during the past few months, despite the doubling of the ration within a

fortnight of the introduction of the system. Reports that the stricter ’ationing of commodities has already been effected, and that its extension to others is in the prospect, are authoritatively denied. The first week of meat rationing passed satisfactorily, and in the opinion of a Food Ministry official, retail butchers dealt with the situation extremely well. The only difficulties encountered were the result of heavy pressure on the ships, due to concentrated buying at the week-end.