FOOD PRICES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18366, 27 April 1925, Page 11

FOOD PRICES.

BRITISH COMMISSION. FORECAST OF REPORT.

(«T CABLE—PHZBS ASSOCIATION—COPIBIGHT) (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Eeccived April 26th, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, April 25,

The political correspondent of the "Morning Post," foreshadowing the Food Commission's report, it is understood that the National Food Council, working in conjunction with the Board of Trade, will be more than a statutory advisory committee. It will be clear that this machinery has been devised to deal with every kind of trading in foodstuffs. Shopkeepers, producers, importers, consumers, local authorities, and Government Departments will all be represented. It is proposed to give the Council power to examine traders' books and accounts, to issue licenses to trade in certain trades, to warn profiteers, and to obtain, if necessary, a shareholding influence in the South American chilled meat importing trade. The report will also advocate regular compulsory returns of the amount of meat in cold storage and in course of transit to Great Britain. Eegarding meat, the Commission affirms that the profits are high, and suggests that butchers combine unduly to depress the price which the farmers receive. The Commissioners lengthily criticise the meat trusts in North and South America, and the connexion of those trusts with the importing and multiple shop companies in Great Britain. The correspondent adds that if the recommendations arc of the nature expected, they will not command the support of a large number of Conservative members of the House of Commons. Sir Auckland Geddes always has been somewhat inclined to State intervention since his experience with the Ministry of EecOnstruction.

Another report says that the Commission's report has been signed, but will not be published for at least a week.