PROFITEERING IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 7

PROFITEERING IN FRANCE

CONSUMERS' LEAGUES AT WORK. Tho high cost of living is now arousing imicli greater interest throughout Franco than any other subject, writes the Paris correspondent of tho "Morning- Post." Tlie appeal of M. Noulens, tho new Food Controller, to every con. sumer to assist in the war on profiteers is receiving a surprisingly large response not only in Paris • but throughout the whole country, and day by day the movement gains strength. Every day news is received of the formation of new leagues of consumers and vigilance committees, as the campaign spreads from quarter to quarter to Paris and from town to town in the provinces. Experience is showing that, apart from tho inevitable rise in prices resulting from the scarcity of freight and other factors due 'to the present unsettled conditions, a very large proportion of the excessive cost of necessaries is directly attributable to the unwarrantably high rate of profit added by the French retailer, and the efforts of tho various consumers' organisations are at present solely directed towards curbjug the rapacity of tho average shopkeeper. These organisations, in order to attain their object, have adopted an entirely new method, which may bo described aa direct action within the law. Far from advocating raids on shops and destruction of the stocks and premises of offending tradesmen, of which there were one or two instances at the beginning of tho campaign, the promoters of the leagues expressly urge that no violence shall be exercised. Their method, however, is none the less effective. In Paris at the conclusion of a meeting a.t which a local league is definitely formed a. powerful deputation of representatives of heads of families is appointed, whose duty is to form the "fighting force in the field." These delegates visit the Paris central markets before dawn, nnd make careful notes of the prices at which shopkeepers of their district are buying from tho wholesale dealers. Armed with this information the delegates fix a scnle of retail prices based on figures that will allow a profit of 20 per cent, to the shop keepers. They then return to tho quarter of tho city in which they livo and visit, the local markets. In many instances the reductions in .price have been. Startling, and have amply proved the success of tho consumers' campaign. Potatoes fell from 7d. to 2jd per lb., eggs from 5Jd. to 3Jd., rabbits from 4. to lis. 9d. por lb., cauliflowers from Is. Cd. to lOd. each, French beans from lOd. to 2Jd. per lb., and cabbages from sd. to 2d. each; while fowls, which before the' arrival of the delegates were marked at prices ranging, from 12s. 6d. to 20s. .each, according to size, dropped suddenly after their presence became known. Bs. to 12s.

A decree was published on August U ordainjng that the prices of all foodstuffs and beverages sold by letail in shops, cafes, restaurants, markets, fairs and other places must be indicated in such a way as to b6 plainly visible to purchasers. Simultaneously the committee appointed to fix prices at which foodstuffs ought to be sold in Paris, after taking into due consideration nil questions of primp, cosfi, general expenses, and reasonable profits, publishes its first list of "normal prices." This shows that, in the opinion of the committee, which includes representatives of the municipal councils, chambers ol commerce, butchers, pork butchers, market gardenors, and dairymen's trade unions and co-operative societies, fair sale prices in the present circumstances should be as follow for (he principal categories of goods:—Ordinary led wine, Is. fid. (he litre of a pint and three-quar-ters; butter, bosh quality, ss. Gd. per French lb. of 17J0z.; ordinary quality, •Is.; eggs, 3d. to Gd. each, according to size and quality; chickens. 4s. 7d. per lb.; rabbit. 2s. Sd. per II).; St. Malo potatoes, 2kl. per lb.; and Dutch potatoes, sd. per lb. Prices arc also listed for vegetables.