MAXIMUM PRICES OF PROVISIONS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 28, 12 April 1918, Page 4

MAXIMUM PRICES OF PROVISIONS.

At the conference of delegates from the London and Provincial Produce exchange of the United Kingdom, and representatives of producers of bacon, butter, and cheese in the United Kingdom, held at the Home and Foreign Produce Exchange, the chairman of the sub-committee (Mr Arthur J. Mills, of Messrs Mills and Sparrow) said that owing to the demand having overtaken the supply of practically all the articles for which maximum prices were fixed the pressure on those prices was now very great. It was necessary for the delegates, when considering the whole position, to bear in mind that high prices of food in this country were giving cause for considerable unrest. Unfortunately, the main complaints did not only touch on the question of high prices, but were combined with charges of profiteering which, if correct in some departments of food supply, certainly were not prevalent in the provision trade. Intertrading regulations had been drawn up which effectually prevented undue turnover of goods between the producer and consumer, and he was confident that the provision merchants of the country were carrying out these regulations. Where cases of- infringement of the regulations came to light they were sent on to the Food Controller, and he was sure that the delegates would have no sympathy with any traders found guilty, whatever their punishment might be. Undue intertrading, or "profiteering," as it was termed, must be put down with a firm hand, and he appealed to all the delegates to get the exchanges and chambers of commerce that they represented to co-operate with the Food Controller in carrying out this part of his programme. THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR ECONOMY.

With regard to cheap food, he was afraid that the country had been fully posted with the actual position. It was no use talking about after three years of war, and with millions of men turned from producers into consumers, to say nothing of war wastage and of the loss of shipping, which pre* vented replenishment from far-away Dominions. The sooner the people of this country understood clearly that we were dependent fcT so much of our food from overseas, and that we had to pay the market price in those countries if we wanted it, the sooner would they understand the absolute necessity of economy in food, and realise that it was only by the greaetst care on their part to avoid waste or extravagence in every article of food that we should be able to pull through to victory. If Food Controllers in America and Canada would fix a maximum price, then the regulation here would be a simple matter, but unless that was done there was no hope of lower prices, as the demand from all sources was greater than the available supply, and we must pay the price demanded or go without it. Great care was necessary in fixing maximum prices here, so as. not to prevent food coming into the country. Complaints of "dear food" would be incomparable with the trouble that would arise if "no food" became the cry. Every possible assistance must be rendered to the Food Controller in bis ar.iuous task, but they must not be misled by the talk of cheap food in making serious mistakes that might bring about -;?lamity.—The "Grocer," London, 11th August.