THE DEAR LIFE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 21, 27 October 1919, Page 5

THE DEAR LIFE

UGLY TEMPER OF THE FRENCH CONSUMERS

TRADE FREEDOM NEEDED

("Westminster Gazette" Paris C'orre-

spondenf.) The new policy of M. Noulens, which consists of creating a vast organisation by means of which- each department and oven canton shall have a commission which each week, will fix the prico of goods, meets with many critics. Apart from tho difficulties of application and the certainty that the prices fixed will be arbitrary, tho very principle of control is assailed. What is demanded is Ministerial co-operation with a view to the re-establi«bment of entire freedom of trade. Increase competition and not control, and you will have an amelioration tho present situation. 'L'Oeuvre,' which more than any, other paper in France knows how to crystallise a policy in a single phrase,, repeats: "There is' only one remedy for high prices—to destroy tho tariff walls." As a matter of fact, tho former experk ence of fixed prices was a complete, failure. What is true of. one country may not bo truo of anothor, but in France, at any rate, when prices art fixed products disappear from the market, to be sold clandestinely at a higher price than ever because there is a certain risk. The public pays more and i 6 in addition much more inconvenienced. If a com- . modity is rare, the law of supply and. demand works inevitably, and tho price goes up. Imports and a correspondingly increased production alone can. permanently diftra the price, Now that important decisions are being taken in common by the Allies, it is essential to' note a,'shrewd French criticism of the system of control which consists in Government dealing with Government. Only the utmost necessity cau justify the continuance of the method of Government purchase, and control of indispensable articles." France, for example, proposes to buy immense quantities of wheat, oats, and sugar, in order to sti>ck them for the coming year.' If there is a veritable famine, or anticipated fpvine, in these things, that may be a proper course'• but, if not, it is obvious that; the world's • markets are being depleted, that free competition, which, would, lead to great production, is being reduced, and that the same difficulties ivill be felt next year. The sooner all these regulations; prohibitions, fixed prices and high traift's arc done away with, and instead of constraint full freedom of trado is restored, the' sooner will u normal condition of things 'be reached, Economic laws cannot bo broken with impunity.

Signs of Real Anger. While the political discussions'' continue, the practical position becomes almost alarming. We see in France the first signs of. real public danger. The consumer begins' to act in two ways. Leagues are being formed through which he -will work, constitutionally, but at the some time the passes have on several occasions during the last week or .so shown an ugly temper and have acted more directly. Even in Paris we have had breaking of shop windows. It is not, of course, the shopkeeper who is chiefly to blame, hut it is natural that ho should become the first victim of the public. ■The French are peculiarly patient. Bu.t their patience is liable to disappear suddenly in a jury of impatience. Curiously enough, it was'a round-about which ■was tho first to 6ufFer from tho rising ■temper of the people. Because the proprietor of this pleasure establishment 'put up 'his price bevond reason the crowd attacked and, destroyed it. Tho reason why a shop was smashed was be-, cause tho same rabbit which was being sold at 3.75 francs a pound at 10 o'clock in the morning was priced at i francs a quarter of an hour .later. From .tho provinces demonstrations of consuniers. are reported. For-instance, at' Havre a number" of leaders went to the wholesale market, and, at prices they had themselves determined beforehand, insisted upon the purchasj without disr cussion of certr.in Quantities of, foodstuffs such as vegetables, butter, '• and eggs. The. prices they gave were in some cases 75 per cent, below-the prices charged the day before. In other cases the reduction wan only 5 per cent.,-because a serious effort was made to arrive at a reasonable rate. When they had bought sufficient provisions they went to' the retail mar!;?t and there' in the public place sold, Iheir merchandise at the price they liad piid. •

At Dunkcrqiie there was a manifestation of workers in ■ tho .market place, and pnces woro immediately lowered all round. Similar incidents serve to show that if- the solution is not found- soon the people will certainly take matters in their own hands.

Pricos Up, But No Shortage. , As I have, said, the causes of high prices are complex, and no one remedy will be sufficient. Thus for example, in Paris at this moment milk is being sold at ?s<l. a litre, although it is being received m sufficient quantities. There -is not tho slightest shortage. One can buy in any quantity. Yet the price remains almost the same as when hardly any supplies reached the capital. Tho same remark applies to butter, which is still sold at li or 7 francs ii pound. There is a sort of habit of inflated prices which will not easily disappear-.. Tins is-'an-other aspest'Of the question ■ which deserves a special study. An impetus has- been givon to cooperative 'societies, which undoubtedly can do good work. What is sign.ficant is that tho society which exists at Versailles, for instance, has received many spontaneous offers from dealers who are hastening to supply their goods to tho society at much lower. prices than they normally charge. The ordinary • merchants nnd that it will soon ba to their interest to help the society, and whilo they continue to sell where they can at higher rates they are prepared to furnish the "co-operative". at prices 10 to 25 per cent, below those that they ask elsewhere.