FOOD COUNCIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 9 May 1925, Page 5

FOOD COUNCIL

RECOMMENDED BY BRITISH COMMISSION MAJORITY AND MINORITY REPORTS SUPPLIES FROM DOMINIONS (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON. May 8. The Food Commission lias issued one majority and two minority reports. '1 he minority reports are signed by Messrs T. H. Hyland ami \V. R. Smith respectively. Tin 1 ! majority report principally recommends the establishment of a. Food Council to maintain continuing supervision over staple food prices. In connection with port, charges on wheat it recommends that, port, authorities carefully consider rates with a view 1 to mailing reductions in the .near future. Compulsory registration of retail butchers is recommended. It endorses the recommendation of tho Linlithgow Committee that cold storage proprietors should be required to furnish statistics in connection with stocks of meat in cold stores to be published at the Food Council's discretion. It. recommends that the Council closely watch the future developments in regard to the import of meat from Argentina since it is of opinion it may he necessary for the Government to intervene by acquiring a controlling interest in British companies operating in the Argentina nr other means, if the supply of chilled and frozen meat- to Britain should he dominated by adverse trading combinations It. expresses the opinion that the Government may wish to discuss with Dominion Governments the possibility of encouraging the interests of the producer and consumer in the flow <«f food from the Dominions to the markets in Britain.

It finally recommends the Government to exercise its influence to ensure that the Economic Section of the League of Nations shall continuously study international food problems and prepare periodical reports for submission to the League Council. The report declares that the operations of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board have not. been an important factor in determining the higher average level of mutton and lamb prices during the past three years. It, seems generally admitted that the Board succeeded in reducing the activities of speculators, but the report, cannot endorse the view that the operations of the Board run counter to tho general interests of British consumers. In regard to retail meat trade in many parts of Britain, buying rings are commoner than witnesses suggested, li says the amalgamation of shops in the hands of the Union Cold Storage Company tended to diminish competition, also" the competition of co-operative societies was not. so effective as might ho in keeping down prices. According to the evidence, imported meat is frequently sold as home-killed meat.. Misdescription also is common in the case of different grades of imported meat. Home production has declined, especially mutton and lamb, while imported beef supplies have increased. The report points out that regulation of shipment is necessary to avoid waste, but it is open to possible abuse. It points out that no evidence was presented to support the suggestion that the International wheat trade was controlled by a small number of firms, exploiting the needs of consumers.