FOOD PRICES.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1925, Page 2

FOOD PRICES.

EVIDENCE BEFORE ‘.'EMISSION [ R EUTE RS TeLKUR A MS. ] LONDON February IS. Labour had its day at the Foot Prices Commission when three work ing men’s wives gave the industrial-

ists’ viewpoint. One little be-sfcctacled woman ran the gauntlet of the Commissioner's .searching questions and she flashed hack incisive answers. She said that the men folk did not grumble at stew before the war hut since the war, they demanded a roast and vegetables. This perhaps, "as due to their war experiences, and to the high war time wages. The butchers, nowadays, left precious little meat on the soup hones. She noticed that butchers had developed a trick of putting up their prices at the week end. and at the time when the industrialists mi ist.lv bought their joints, hut the poof lo only grumbled, and then smiled and took it as a matter of course, and Uiou they blamed the Government.

Mrs l’hi lip Snowden, who is one i Llie Commissioners, said; “That i

ea-v! We are also blamed likewise if we don't do .something!” Mr Bromley, who gave evidence oi; behalf of the Labour Unions. mentioned that the Japanese appeared to In substituting wheat for rice. That would give Australia and New Zealand a new market, and. in: ideutally. would keep up the pri-v of wheat here. Similarly wheat was replacing rye in many F.uropean dietaries.

LONDON, February 18. At the Food Commission sitting. •“ statement was submitted on behalf of the Trade Fnion Congress and the Labour Party F.xeciltive.S, '] ro)losing tin establishment of a system of centralised purchase of wheat and meat, and arrangements with the organised Dominion producers for securing a definite portion of the Dominion’s output at fair prices, to he fixed in advance and also for the establishment of an International Economic Commission as part of the permanent machinery of the League of Nations, to examine the operations of the international combines, to elaborate the measures for their control, and to provide machinery for the eo-upersti.m of the public organisations which might be established by the different nations for tin* purchase of fomlstiifls. Sir Auckland Gcdilcs (Chairman) asked Mr Fred Bramlcv. who ,submitted the statement, for evidence of unfair

profits. Mr Bromley said that that was the C unmisMon’s responsibility.

Sir A. Geildes : We have upon! months looking for unfair profits. We want vour licdp.” Mr Bramlcv said that by “organised international action” he meant tha an international trust of consumers was ceded to light against, the trusts that are controlling prices. The Commission was adjourned.