FOOD PRICES RISING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2357, 13 January 1915, Page 5

FOOD PRICES RISING

LONDON'S LOAF AT SEVEN* , PENCE CAUSES INVESTIGATED , London, January' 11. Ihe price of bread has risen, from 5Jd. to 7d. per loaf. The rise is chiefly '■. attributable to the increased freights, the result of the Government commandeering so many vessels, and the dmpotency of German ships, aggregating six million tons. Inquiry discredited,the rumour that the rise was duo to speculation and hoarding of foodstuffs. American freights have risen by £2, and River Plate freights £1 and £3 since the war. A suggestion that is being discussed is that the Governmont should com... mandeer' merchant shipping, as is done to railways. \ The, "Times" says that there is pier '■<-, > of food, but the prices depend upon' the fact that .there are less supplyingcountries than formerly But for Br£ tain's command of the sea the loaf might have been 22Jd., aB in 1801. -"-'■ In London, since the war began, there has been .in all-round advance in food prices, averaging 20 per cent. The prices for fish have almost doubled. IN WEST AUSTRALIA, BREAD JUMPS ONE HALFPENNY,, Perth, January 12. The price of bread has been advanced from threepence halfpenny to fourpence per loaf. LIQUOR PRICES, IN SYDNEY. Sydney, January 12. Many of the city hotelkeepers are refusing to adopt the new scale of charges for beer and spirits. A return to the old prices is prophesied., UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM. SHOULD BE MADE ON EMPIRE QUESTION. London, January 11, At a conference of politicians, colonial officials, clergy, Mid leading public men and women l it was resolved that the question of unemployment arising out of the war should be treated as an - Empire matter, and that the views of representatives of the Dominions be ob-tained.-—"Times" and Sydney "Sun"' services. ■ ■, BREAD SHORTAGE IN GERMANY., (Rec. January 12, 5.20 p.m.) ', London, January 11". The prohibition of night baking in Germany has rendered idle thirteen thousand bakers and caused general alarm and dissatisfaction, because the people understood that the food supplies were equal to any emergency.—"Times"- ' and Sydney "Sun" services. fA previous message stated that the authorities had prohibited night baking in Germany with the object of lessening the public consumption of bread.] . SYDNEY'S DEAR MEAT. EFFECTS OF THE DROUGHT. (Rec. January 12; 7.15 p.m.) Melbourne, January 12. The meat interests attribute the rise in the price of meat to the drought, which is making fat stock scarce. Brisbane, January 12. The Premier ridioules the idea thai the deoline in the quality of meat sent to the Sydney market has been caused by trust operations. The meat was going to feed the troops. AUSTRALIAN W.HEAT. 'ACQUISITION BOARD'S WORK. (Reo. January 18, 0.5 a.m.) Sydney, January 12. Mr. Ashford, chairman of the Wheal) Board, claims that, despite adverse criticism, the' wheat Acquisition Bill is working well. He has received letters from' a number of farmers supporting the action of the Government. "