CANADIAN FOOD PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1920, Page 4

CANADIAN FOOD PROBLEM.

PRICES STILL ADVANCING. VANCOUVER, Jan. 13. Canadians have been wont to criticise their own Government, while giving praise to the efforts of foreign administrations. Of course this is not typical of Canadians only, for it is a practice generally followed, and when the high cost of living—that bugbear of all nations—was being endured in its earlier stages, and before the country had become accustomed to the new scale of prices, there was a popular outcry in Canada that the much-execra-ted' Government at Ottawa was allowing profiteers to rob the people. Everybody believed it, and with universal sentiment looked upon the packer, the grocer, the butcher, baker, and the whole company of business men as wicked in the extreme, and deserving to be clapped behind., prison doors.

Newspapers with a penchant for sailing with the wind joined in the hue and cry against business men, frankly declaring: “Look at the way the United States handle their profiteers !”

Attempts are now being made to becalm the populace, who daily are growling with an ever-increasing pite> ous cry against the excessively disproportionate price demanded by the retailers for the essentials of life. The gospel preached by the Board of Commerce entrusted with investigations into the high cost of living is that the trouble of to-day rests in a new plane of values • brought about by the abnormal shortage of food and materials of every kind. The people very much doubt the alleged shortage in Canada, where, food during the ar was in abundance, and anyone possessing the wherewithal could buy all he desired to hoard against the day of higher prices. “NOT PROFITEERS!” The Canadian Board of Commerce has caused much ridicule to be heaped upon that body by reaching the conclusion and calmly announcing that Canadian business men are not profiteers. After an exhaustive enquiry, covering trade in all its branches, the Board summed up its findings in these words: “The Board has found among retailers generally a wholesome desire to avoid even the appearance of overcharging.” The Canadian people are being frequently notified in this manner, hut they refuse to swallow such physic as a cure for their complaints that food is

excessively priced by the retailers. Investigations show that food is cheaper in the United States, despite the assertions of official Ottawa. Pro--Steering is no more prevalent on the southern side of the international border than it is flagrant in Canada. In fact, the tendency had been in Canada to denude the Dominion of all possible of essential commodities and attempt

to flood war-stricken European coun-

tries with what is termed the “surplus.” This surplus had been marketed at the highest price obtainable in Europe, where foodstuffs were then in great demand. Domestic prices have

been set at a level obtainable in fa-mine-ridden lands, irrespective of the fact that the staple industry of Canada is wheat production. The fallacy of tile Ottawa declara-

tion that profiteering was almost an unknown quantity in Canada was illustrated with the advance in prices of several leading commodities practically simultaneously with the Board of Commerce’s dictum that profiteering did not exist in the Dominion At tlie time wheat—with which Canada abounds—was advanced 85 cents a

bushel, and just before the rise retailers, evidently prompted that an advance was imminent, loaded up immense supplies which they placed on sale when the advance occurred. Sugar is as scarce in the stores as gold in a paper-currency land. Householders can only obtain a single pound of sugar with other goods, and days pass until the solitary 10 ounces of sugar are delivered to the head of the family. Yet the managers of sugar refineries, when taxed with the apparent scarcity of sugar, have emphatically announced that they are making equally large quantities as in years past, and are distributing it fairly! RETAILERS HOARDING. ■ There is no doubt the retailers are the stumbling block, and when prices advaneo they always are able to supply the enquirer for goods. They delight in unloading goods which they have heavily stocked just previous to a rise, but always sell at the “uttermost farthing” In brief, the Board of Commerce statement that retail profiteering is non-existent, has caused the loudest guffaw of derision ever known in recent times. Despite the plea that the retailers are selling at the lowest possible margin of profit, it has been noticed that expensive motor-cars are being purchased by these grocers, ! many of whom are running but small shops! People are wondering where the money for these expensive foreign cars emanates from, except through profiteering on th'e necessities of life. A glance over the international border shows that food control is in force N in the United States, where prices of fish are published in the daily Press at scales set by the Food Commission. Should a.retailer sell at the smalest fraction over these low prices set by the Government, he is haled into court and promptly fined heavily. Prices are similarly set for the sale of sugar, and other essentials, and woe betide any retailer who is guilty of any infraction of the law reglating prices. Frequently shops have been closed by the Government when retailers have been caught, , selling goods over Government prices. Nothing paralleling this policy is in force in Canada yet “big business” is • seeking to impress Canadian house- - holders that their system is the best. They aro vainly endeavouring to j persuade the Canadian pater-families r that “people of the United States look j longingly to the relatively happy state r if the Canadian people,” in regard to t this vital question of food control! , Only recently the American Govern- ~ ment initiated a system of disposing f of surplus Government supplies of food f, and clothing previously purchased for 0 soldiers overseas. These goods wero 0 sold very much below ruling market j prices, and Canadians are now wonder- t j< ing when a similar action trill occur in U 1 tho Dominion. ni