Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1917. THE QUESTION OF FOOD CONTROL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10117, 26 October 1917, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1917. THE QUESTION OF FOOD CONTROL

Tub Cost ol Living Committee, having reconsidered its report, has eliminated the recommendation providing For tho ptircha.se, hy the Slate, of foodstuffs at export values and marketing thorn in the Dominion at lower rates at the expense <>f the Consolidated Fund. It. adheres, however, bo the proposal thai <i Food Controller should he appointed, and that such official should hold Cabinet rank. But, here again, tho proposal is modified, tho suggestion that the new .Minister should ho invested with plenary powers heing withdrawn. The Committee had apparently taken a leaf out of Lord Rhondda's hook, when it, made the suggestions to which Sir Joseph Ward and other members of the Cabinet and House took exception. In his capacity as food Controller. Lord Uhondda exercises very wide powers of control, and. in his methods of working, is largely a law unto himself. \n 'unfolding his*plan to stop profiteering, •and to secure a strict control over the necessaries of life. Lord Uhondda told the House of Lords on July 26th that it was necessary to lake action because "the nation may later find itself short ol some of the necessaries of life,'' although there was "no immediate prospect of any serious shortage in any important article." His policy was bo fix tho price of those articles of prime necessity, over which he could obtain control at all stages from the producer down to the retailer, the prices to he fixed as Far as possible on the principle of allowing a reasonable pro-war profit for those engaged in production, and distribution, the policy to he one of determining the profits at every stage, and of eliminating all speculation and unnecessary middlemen. Existing head agencies were to ho utilised for distribution under license and control, under the supervision of local food controllers. who were to be appointed by the loyal authorities. Dealing with profiteering Lord Uhondda said: "Where profits have been made illegally, I hardly think that the infliction of n fine is likely to prove a sufficient deterrent, and 1 shall press for imprisonment in all cases that [ regard as of sufficient gravity, irrespective of the age or position of the delinquent. In my opinion no man is entitled to make any gain oil I of the necessities of tile nation." For that

reason Lord lihondda proposed to eliminate the profiteer "by fixing prices at every stage on the basis of pre-war profits.''' Bread alone was to be subsidised to enable the bakers to sell UMJ 41b loaf at 9d over the counter, JintisJi wheat was to be sold to the mills at the price fixed by the Government from tiiii.' to time, and averaging over the year 72s a quarter (9s per bushel). Imported wheat was to ho supplied to the mills at a price corresponding with the price for British wheat; but, "as fourlilt lis of the wheat came from overseas, and it was impossible to dictate the price paid to tho producer there," it was necessary to subsidise the loaf, and this Lord Rhondda had urged the Government to do "because of the impossibility of otherwise reducing the price of the chief food of the poor." Dealing with meat, the maximum prices fixed ranged from 74s per cwt. in September, down to 67s for November and December, and 60s for January, and. as a result, Lord Rhondda estimated there would he a reduction of prices to the consumer, which, by the end of the year, would reach, at least Gel per lb. retail on prime joints. The profits of dealers and butchers would not be left uncontrolled, all wholesale and retail butchers were to be registered, and their rates of profit limited by fixing prices, their right to remain on the, register depending upon the way in which they observed the conditions of the Ministry of Food and the local food committee concerned. The detailed price lists for different joints were (subject to guidance from the Ministry from time to time) to be left to the local food committee. Supplies wore to be carefully organised, .so as to secure regular delivery in sufficient quantities to enable them to be retailed at the prices fixed. The food control committees were to he appointed by urban and rural councils, and wen l to consist ot not more than twelve members, with at least one Labour and one woman member. Milk and sugar supplies were to he similarly controlled, the latter by means of sugar cards, hotels, restaurants, and manufacturers to he rationed, while every householder was to he supplied with a card which ho was to present to the retailer, so that the latter might be in a position to apply for sugar to meet his customers' requirements. The scheme of food control bade fair to work very satisfactorily and, as it has now been in force for nearly three months, we may safely conclude it is doing so. The circumstances of Great Britain and this country arc. however, so widely dissimilar, that the reasons which led to the appointment of a Food Controller in the person of j Lord Rhondda in the former country |are conspicuous by their absence here.