FOOD CONTROL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20000, 16 July 1920, Page 9

FOOD CONTROL.

Among tiie many things that a woman ougno to Know nowadays are tnc " ways and t\ ucrc-ioi’cs" or loocl control (says tiio " Gciuicwoiuan' “ ‘ i'hoa control may simply mean mat the Government. now adopted the policy o,t issuing regulations tr.mi umo to time to ux tnc prices at which the wholesale dealer shall sell to the retail deaior and the retail dealer to the general public. It may menu, however, that the Government lias itself become the wholesale dealer tor certain >codb tuffs, anti uses the price in a different ivoy hr buying up huge stocks of these sniffs and selling at whatever price it decides upon. Hr, again, it may refer to such a policy as the Government has adopted with regard to bread—the policy of subsidising the producers in order that llio public may buy their produce at a price which would not in itself repar tho producers for their labour and the cost of production.” The advantage of subsidising is that it keeps tho price, high as il is, yet within the roach of most people, Tho disadvantage is that the money so spent must come from somewhere -this somewhere being out Of the State funds—these come, ultimately, out of the pockets of the nation. Considering the Government as a wholesale dealer, the writer continues; ’■ Usually criticisms aro directed towards the Government's management of the policy rather than towards tho policy itself. But it is necessary to decide. before criticising tho management, whether in itself tnc policy is go-ad. Can the Government ever bo a wholesale dealer? Can-if afford to take tho chances of .the market ? Can it cut its profits easily if it wishes to clear its huge stocks quickly at a loss when it is dealing with goods that are perishable and cannot at the moment command a. Food market? Then, too, is it desirable that the Goreniuidnl should over sell at a profit? 'What of tho view that it is better to let the nation have its food at tlio lowest possible price*, and if Stab- funds are necessary raise them by direct taxation? Here aro points to consider with regard to two aspects of fond control." The same point? of consideration apply to New Zealand, and aro therefore of interest to this country. * ; t