AFFAIRS OF EMPIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19182, 27 May 1924, Page 7

AFFAIRS OF EMPIRE

LABOUR COMMONWEALTH GROUP* STABILISING FOOD PRICES. ■ Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyrijfbi* LONDON, May 25. In an interview, Dr Haden Guest, M.P. (Labour), stated that the Labour Commonwealth Group in the House of Gormnona w'as not only studying Preference, but, the possibility of starting a State marketing organisation in Britain for the purpose of stabilising food prices, cutting down the middlemen’s profits, and allowing an increase in the prices for produce, and lower prices to the - consumers. Dr Guest said: “We feel that there is too! wide a margin between the producer’s and the consumer’s prices. A State marketing scheme would involve the aooumuJation of large food reserves m State-: controlled cold stores and granaries, from which quantities could be released regularly at stabilised prices, foreign imports being admitted only under license. In return we should expect the dominions to assist in solving the migration problem.” The Group believes that an Imperial economic committee is necessary for the mutual discussion of questions arising out of the Empire’s “big family.” It is impossible at present to estimate the Group's influence on Labour’s policy, but there ie no doubt that a number of Labourites will vote for the Imperial Conference proposals which do not involve fresh duties. —Sydney Sun Cable.