FOOD SCARCITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 17

FOOD SCARCITY.

COST OF LIVING. (By Cable.) LONDON, August 18. Mr M'Curdy (Parliamentary Secretary to the Food Ministry) has been inter* viewed. He said that the enormous surplus of world's wheat reported was non.-; existent. The previous report of a surplus was due to miscalculations. Therefore the price would remain high. It would be several years before Central Europe's production could reach the prewar scale, for lack of fertilisers nad exhausted the land. Russia's contribution to the world's supply would be negligible. The official Labour Gazette states that . the cost of living is higher now in Eng- \ land than it was at the tensest period of . the war, and, unless the forthcoming steps against profiteering are more successful ; than anticipated, prices are likely to be- ; come worse. The Gazette states that there is an increase of 117 per cent, aa compared with ; 1914. This represents only the necessaries of life. The increase in many other everyday articles is far greater. PROFITEERING BILL. LONDON, August 18. The House of Lords passed the Profiteering Bill. August 24. The Board of Trade announces that the Profiteering Act will be administered by, firstly, a central committee representing the Government, the chambers of commerce, the employers, the employees, tho trade unions, and the co-operative societies, which will investigate the costs and profits of manufacturers and wholesale merchants; secondly, a local committee appointed by the municipal councils to investigate specific complaints against retailers ; thirdly, an appeal tribunal in each "county appointed t>y the Board of Trade to hear appeals from the local com mittee's decisions. PRICE OF WHEAT AND FLOUR. LONDON, August 21. Home-grown wheat of the 1919 harvest will be offered to millers at an average price of 71s lid per 4801 b. The Wheat Commission has fixed the following prices for imported wheat per 4801 b 52s 6d to 60s; American, 54s to 60s; Australian, sound, untreated, 61s; treated, 60s; Argentine, 595. The Treasury, on the advice of the Wheat Commission, has reduced the tax on flour not to be used for bread-making from 36s per 2801 bto 245. . The Committee on National Expenditure believes that it will be possible to abolish the bread subsidy at the end of the year owing to the increasing home production -a and the prospective Australian and Canadian supplies. A White Paper discloses a loss of £1,080,000 on the Food Production Department and trading schemes, including a loss of £848,000 on motor ploughing. MEAT PRICES. LONDON, August 20. The fact that the Food Ministry has fixed the prices for Home-killed, meat till July, 1920, is regarded as indicative of" the' Government's intention to control imported meats for the same period.- ■ AUSTRALIAN HARVEST PROSPECTS. MELBOURNE, August 20. The manager of the Wheat Commission reports that owing to drought and frosts the Riverina wheat areas are in a bad condition and almost beyond recovery. The northern districts are also much retarded. SYDNEY, August 25. Good general rains are falling in the western districts of New South Wales, and it is expected to mean the break-up of the drought. The whole State is benefiting by the splendid rains which came at the psychological moment to save the crops. BRISBANE, August 26. General rains have fallen in the coastal region of Queensland, ensuring a good spring season.