The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, July 8, 1915. THE POSITION IN GERMANY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1421, 8 July 1915, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, July 8, 1915. THE POSITION IN GERMANY.

The Hon. J. T. Paul's statement that food prices in Germany and Austria are cheaper than in England is hardly in accordance with fact, “The Economist’’ (a Eondon financial paper) ot May 22nd, declares that food prices in Berlin and Vienna are steadily rising. This is shown by the figures published in German official papers, weighted according to consumption data, and derived from German sources by the Board of Trade. In February they were 42.6 per cent, above those for July ; in March, 49 per cent, above July. Increases took place in the price of fifteen articles In March. Potatoes were 180 per cent, dearer than iu March, 1914, and 75 per cent, iu advance ot the July prices. Haricot beaus were 152.8 per cent., lentils 173.2 per cent., and split peas 200 per cent, dearer. Comparison of bread prices with March, 1914. is com plicated by the fact that on January 15th, 1915, an order came into force lowering the quality and quantity ot flour contained in bread ; and also as a result of the corn supply being taken over by the Government on January 25th. Of twenty articles chosen for comparative purposes, all showing increases in cost in March, 1915, as compared with March, 1914, the weighted net increase amounts to 49.4 per cent. Individual rises, in addition to those quoted, range from 8 to 120 per cent, higher, the more notable increases being rye bread 74.1 per cent., rye flour 60 per cent., wheat flour 28.6 per cent., eggs 71.4 per cent., bacon 58.2 per cent., lard 72 per cent., and pork 43.9 per cent. It is evident from these facts that the people who have persuaded themselves into the belief that the German people are better off than the British are grievously mistaken as to the facts.