HIGH COST OF LIVING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 16

HIGH COST OF LIVING.

(By Cable.) NEW SCHEME FOE. CHEAPENING. LONDQN, February 26. The Daily Express makes a feature of a new plan for cheapening the cost of living. It says the problem must be tackled from three directions: A readjustment of the American rate of exchange, a drastic reduction of shipping freights, and the reopening of unrestricted trade with Russia. The paper points "out that the gold reserves held by the banks total £170,000,000, but while financiers declare that sending America £50,"000,000 in gold would rectify the rate of exchange the Government declares this this is impossible. The Daily Express urges that it can be sent immediately if the British public, in return for the Government bonds, will lend the State gold and trinkets, which would be returned to them when normal gold reserves have been re-established. The Supreme Council is considering economic questions, and has ascertained that wholesale prices have increased over those piling before the war in France and Italy 300 per cent., Britain 170 per cent., Japan 160 per cent., and America 120 per cent. February 27. Owing to the entire failure of the Siamese rice crop and partial failure in Burma, it is expected that the cost will double. The Wheat Commission therefore decided on pooling rice stocks. BREAD SUBSIDY CONTINUED. LONDON, February 28. The Government has decided to continue the Food Ministry for five, years. The bread subsidy will be continued, but will be restricted to £50,000,000 a year. Anything in excess of the subsidy ■will be defrayed by raising the price of the loaf, which will shortly go up from ftid to Is per quartern loaf. The price of sugar will shortly be fixed

at Is per lb, involving an increase in the price of jams. PRICE OF RABBITS. LONDON, March 1. The Food Controller has fixed the maximum wholesale price of rabbits as follows : —Specials, 56s per crate; large, 465, young, 38s; small, 28s. COLONIAL FRUIT. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr J. D. Gilbert drew attention to the fact that the Port _of London Authority had stopped the sale of colonial fruit at the docks, and he suggested that the fruit might be sold directly it was landed without the expense of carting it to the mar kets. Mr M'Curdy (Secretary to the Food Ministry) replied that the committee was inquiring with a view to providing additional market facilities. FOOD CONTROL. LONDON, March 1. Speaking in the House of Commons,, Mr M'Curdy said that he thought there was no likelihood of the complete removal of food control for at least 12 months.— Reuter. ' It was announced in the House of Commons that figs will be decontrolled on March 31. FOOD SITUATION IMPROVING IN GERMANY. BERLIN, February 27. Owing to large Government purchases from South America, the food situation is now far more favourable, and there is no longer fear of a crisis. Huge quantities of maize and other cereals have been purchased on good terms, and ample tonnage is available to ship it. LONDON, March 1. It has transpired that the Germans are , receiving less than half the nominal quan-

tity of food which it is estimated is necessary per individual. . . ITALY'S MEATLESS DAYS. ROME, February 29. Friday and Saturday have been declared meatless days. .The Government will re : duce the importation of cereals, frozen meat, sugar, and bacon. The reduction of the bread ration to 450 grammes, except to manual workers, who get 500 grammes, is expected to effect a saving of 2,000,000,000 lire. AN ECONOMIC CRISIS. ROME, February 29. Signor Ferrari explains that the resump tion of rationing and the drastic restriction of food imports in Italy is intended to prevent an economic crisis resulting in catastrophe. Everyone is preaching economy, but nobody is practising it. The Government is therefore determined to suppress unnecessary expenditure, and k> enforce cultivation of the land. Lignite is obtainable in Italy as a substitute for imported coal. SEMI-STARVED CHILDREN. BERNE, February 29. The condition of the semi-starved children in Central Europe was discussed at a conference at Geneva. Striking figures were quoted. It is estimated that 1,000,000 children are underfed in Germany, 400,000 each in France and Italy, 300,000 in Austria, 100,000 in Hungary, and 350,000 in the Baltic States. There are 250,000 orphans in Armenia. WASHINGTON, March 6. The. United States Grain Commissioner (Mr Barnes) has announced that he will sell 5,000,000 barrels of flour on credit to Austria, Poland, and Hungary unless Congress speedily appropriates 50,000,000 dollars for the relief of these countries.