SUBSIDIES ON FOOD

Opunake Times, 30 September 1947, Page 1

SUBSIDIES ON FOOD

POSITION IN GT. BRITAIN HUGE SUM INVOLVED The removal of some of the subsidies at present payable on a number of commodities gives point to a recent article in the Financial Times (London) on food" prices and subsidies in Great Britain. The Federation of Commodity and Allied Trade Associations recently investigated the relative, values of food and materials secured by bulk purchase methods as compared with free markets. The Federation claim's; that quite inadequate attention is paid to quantities secured by the different methods, which is described as the vital test, ond Ikat what is actuallv now happening on the world's markets is masked from die public bv food subsidies. t If shortages persist, or high prices are maintained for any length of time, then the system of buying and -marketing employed has failed. At present the British Treasury is spending £425,000,000 a year in food subsidies —half on imported food—and based on a given weeklv ration for an adult, these are calculated to save thehousewife 2/3 a week for each ration book. For a family of two adults and two children > .the reduction caused by subsidies in the price of main rationed meat is abqut 9/- a week.