GERMAN FOOD BILL

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 55, 28 November 1907, Page 5

GERMAN FOOD BILL

PROTECTION.

A FISCAL FIGHT IN THE REICHSTAG.

PRICES OP FOODSTUFFS. THE GOVERNMENT'S DEFENCE. Dt TELEGRAM—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COI'IT.IOnT. (Rcc. Nov. 27, 0.39 p.m.) Berlin, Novombcr 27. Hcrr Scheidcmann, a Socialist, speaking in tho Reichstag, complained that the avorage cost of living had increased during tho last decade by 33 1-3 per cont. Ho gave the following increases in the price of foodstuffs Article. Period taken. Increase in prico. V/hcat Last six years 45 per cent. Flour Since last year 34 „ „ Beef Last decade 36 „ ;l Mutton Last decade 50 „ „ The upward movement, said Herr Schoidomann, was alarming the workers. Ho urged the removal of the duties on imported corn, and the relaxation of tho stringent regulations in connection with the importation of foreign meat. The Minister for the Interior, Herr von Bethmann-Hollwcg, roplied that higher wages caused an increased consumption of all commodities and a gonoral improvement in the standard of living. The amount of meat now consumed had nearly risen to the British level. Prices of live stock, had recently declined, only the butchers had not made a corresponding reduction in the retail prices. International factors, tho Minister said, largely regulated the prico of corn. It was absurd to speak of famine prices, and even a temporary suspension of the corn duties was out of the question. Such a suspension would only benefit speculators and middlemen. NAVAL BURDEN. SOME HEROIC EXPENDITURE. DT TELEGRAPH —I'ItESS ASSOCIATION—COrVHIGHT. \ Berlin, November 26. A memorandum 'attached to tho Naval Estimates shows that it is proposed to spend £208,600,000 on tho Navy during the next ton yoars. Half that'amount will be spent on ships and armament. Tho Naval Estimates includo provision for a naval harbour extending 1000 yards into tho sea at the southern corner of Heligoland, tho island which Great Britain ceded to Germany in 1890.

The protective system of Germany is considtred to be on its trial. Much of. the present trend of events was ariticipntedi in tho last report of Sir P. Oppenheitner, Britisli ConsulGenernl, on the trade and commerco of the Frankfort district. Sir F. Oppenheimer pointed on' that if tho new commercial treaties had for the time succeeded, it was fortunate for them that tho change of system took place during a rise, for it is easier 1 to make such a change when times are good. It' was a queition how much of the results claimed for the treaties were part and parcel of tho remarkable cconimis prosperity that began in 1902. For months past it has been admitted that that prosperity is not to continue. The decline is reflected most strongly in the steel trade One of the most notablo of the warnings was issued lq'st Juno by tho Dusseldorf Iron and Steel Exchango. Early in October Berlin papers drew attention to'"the great increase in the prices of household foodstuffs," and predicted a hard winter. French newspapers hastened to point out'that Germany was rushing into greater military and .naval burdens just at tho tiino when the country's resources were becoming less able to bear them. The- German Socialists about tho same timo bejan a moro active campaign. '.Tlie argument between the Socialist member ana tlie Minister is the fiscal issue over again. From tho theory in the Minister's spceoh ono fact may bo separated, viz.: that the standard of living under 1 what has been termed' tho

"hi?]) wngo and high price' protection system" noiv in forco in Germany has improved to the extent- that "the amount of meat now consumed has nearly risen to" the British level." liuc,. according to Sir F. Oppenheimer, the meat consumption in Germany has decreased. Ho states that: "Leaving out the home slaughterings, ill 1906, there wero consumed per head of population '74.081b.. of meat, against 7G.641b. in tho t year 1905. These figures, however, arc deceptive,'and tho reduction is really greater, as a part of the population does not participate in the consumption of meat (0.g., children and invalids), and. again, a not inconsiderable part of the well-to-do classes does not to any extent alter its consumption of meat in consequence of tho price; tho reduced consumption of meat by tho working classes, then, is really more considerable than the official figures seem to admit.

"At first it had been believed that the rapid rise in the price of meat during recent years was only temporary; His opinion has proved .erroneous, nnd to-day there is a consensus of opinion that the price of meat is not likel.v again to drop anyivhero near its former level. The import of foreign cattle into Germany lias practically ceased, and the law for tho examination of meat absolutely forbids the importation of certain kinds of meat—e.g., meat in tins, pickled meat, weighing less than four kilos, • etc. Imported fresh meat was formerly subject to a duty of from 15 to IV marks per metric centner, which since Afarch 1, 190G, lias been increased to 27 marks. To this miist be added the not inconsiderable cost of examination to which all imported meat is subjected-.

"By ttie last commercial treaties the duties on agricultural produce wero raised, and thus in a country generally protected, home agriculture obtained an additional amount of protection. This, constitutes an attempt to force Germany to live on her own agricultural produce, though it is very much doubted whether German agriculture can produce enough to feed tho population of the country. If there bo economic objections to this policy, they are often answered by political arguiueufs. "So considerable was the rise in price of raw material nnd of the accessory materials needed for manufacture, that several Chambers of Commerce have described tho year 190G ns a year of price struggle between materials nud manufactured goods. The producors of the latter, not being able to obtain an equal rise, naturally resented the increase. Thus, for instance, the leather industry fought hard against the increased prices for skins and hides (and towards the end of the year forced a reduction), but was, on the other hand, as energetically attacked by the leather-consuming inductries—o.g., shoes and fine goods. . The textile industry again was so busy throughout the year that even during the summer months, in which it enjoys a traditional rest, it was kept well employed, but the prices for finished goods wore in no way in harmony with the increased cost of manufacture, and the profits were smaller than was to have been expected from the state of activity all round, Similar complaints come from tho varnish and colour trades, the papor trade, the electrical industry, etc." .