CONTROL OF FOOD PRICES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2225, 11 August 1914, Page 6

CONTROL OF FOOD PRICES

CO-OPERATION OF COMMERCIAL MEN, At the Central Chamber of Commerce last evening the following resolution was carried"That the Chamber offers its co-operation to in any way assist the Government in its endeavour to protect the community from any undue inflation in prices of foodstuffs, and, further, the Chamber earnestly appeals to its mem- ■ bers to recognise their duty to the country in this.iaspect.in the.deprcssion that' may prevail in the near future." It was' also decided that Messrs. C. M. Luke and A. Leigh Hunt should represent the Chamber if it was asked to give any assistance to any committee which might be set up to regulate prices. These representatives have call in. other assistance.' SUSPENSION OF PffSO TAXES URGED. At last' night's meeting of the Land Values League, the following resolution.' , was carried:—"'That having regard to the prevailing high prices, an'd the prospect 'of further trade dislocation atfd unemployment, this league is of opinion that Parliament should suspend all taxes on food." . .. Mr. P. J. O'Regan, i» proposing the. resolution, said that the proper course at the present time was to encourage freo importation. It was a gross scandal that ther9 should be such taxes as 51 pfer ton on flour, 3d. per lb. oil butter, and 22i, per cent, ad valorem on potatoes. Mr. D. M'Donald seconded the resolution. He pointed out that Protectionist France had already suspended its foo3 taxes, and that in Austria the same course was in 'contemplation in respect of meat. The legislation just passed by one own Parliament.,would accomplish- nothing until , the public bepan to protest against • the high prices; If the duties were re-, moved, outside competition would do more to regularise and to lower prices than any board could accomplish. Mr. A. Withy, Mr. G. Warren, and others also spoke, and tho .resolution was .carried unanimously. . .