FOOD PRICES.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1925, Page 3

FOOD PRICES.

GOVERNMENT CONTROL .SUGGESTED, [Reuters Teleojiamb.] (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, February 7. dicing evidence before the Food Commission, T. F. Wi.se, a member of the Food Council, submitted a memorandum on meat supplies. He said the increased demand from (other markets made it practically certain that unless concerted action was taken, prices would continue to rise. Tim South American trade was centralised in the hands of two great combines, one an American and the other British. The. latter centred round the brothers Vestey, who handled twentyfive per cent of the total export of Oh* two groups. They worked in harmony with the shipping companies and the effect was that they were aide to exercise a dangerous control over beef prices in Britain. There was no guarantee that the vast Vestey organisation might not at any moment form a temporary o; permanent alliance with the American Trust. The British consumer worth then he at their mercy.

Mr Wise proposed tne establishment of a Meat Board whoso duties would include the regulation of the import tation of meat, the transformation of Ve.stey’s undertakings into an organisation to be run on publu utility lines under Government control, also development of Empire sources of supply 'and. •the elimination of unnecessary profits in distribution.