HIGH PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2412, 18 March 1915, Page 6

HIGH PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS

■ALLEGED EXPLOITATION. {By Tdegmpli.—Pjxsb Aasocl»ttoa.) . Dunedln, March 17. The Otago Tramways Union;, at its annual meeting, passed a resolution expressing the opinion that the Government is showing lamentable weakness in permitting the public to be exploited in regard to the high prices of foodstuffs. especially in allowing the Flourmillers' Association to charge £17 10s. a ton for flour milled from State wheat which was sold to tho millers to enable them to sell flour 1 at, £14 10s.) and protesting against .this barefaced exploitation being permitted to continue. At a meeting of the City Council tonight it was decided to' endorse the resolution piassed by the Runanga. Borough "Council protesting against the inaction of the Government in connection with Jihe regulation of the price of foodstuffs: The Port Chalmers Council agreed to support the Runanga Borough Counoil's protest regarding the increased prico of foodstuffs, and to seek tbe co-operation of the, member for tho district with a view to urging tho Government to secure relief. Chrlatchuroh, March 16. The City Council last evening discussed tho rise in food prices.' Councillor Burgoyne, in moving a resolution of protest against the recent big advance, said there were men in this country acting in a traitorous way by exploiting the public. If ho had his way they would be all arrested and shot. Other councillors spoke in a similar strain. Tho resolution was carried.

ANOTHER PROTEST.

Dunedln, March 17. At the annual meeting of the Otago General Union to-night, a motion was carried calling on the Government immediately to deal with the increased cost of living as affecting the worker. The mover of the motion stated that the increase pressed most heavily on the casual worker, particularly the man with a family. The casual worker had been called on, and had responded, in many cases, in a wholehearted manner, and it now became the imperative duty of tlio Government to safeguard tho worker and mitigate the heavy toll taken from liiin by the enhanced cost of tlio actual necessaries of life.