PROFIT HUNTING.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 16 January 1917, Page 4

PROFIT HUNTING.

WAS A PRETEXT. GOVERNMENT IX. REDUCING MEAT PRICES. WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. Cabinet meetings darning the Week-end have been by far the most important since the departure of the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward. Affairs have reached a critical stage, in which Government action is to be taken in connec- * t' lCu with the vitally important questions of retail food prices and organisation of man-power within the Dominion. As a result of the National Cabinet’s deliberations an important pronouncement mav be expected at an early date. The investigations of the Board of trade and the huge purchasing operations of the Government it- , ,iavo satisfied the members of the J Ministry that the ordinary consumer is not being treated with consideration. The war ha s been made a pretext for 1 profit-hunting, which, the country will be glad to know, the Government is going to stop. Meat prices have caused much criticism. Dome retail figures are a hundred per cent in advance of the Government is paying on aceouat of the Imperial Purchase Board, and what the New Zealand farmer is getting. It may be confidently anticipated that the Hon. W. D. s. MacDonald will be able to get Cabinet, sanction for a new scheme, under, which butchers will be able to buy their meat from the cool store at Imperial purchase rates, plus a small addition for storage, but there will have to be a guarantee that this privilege will not be a means to further high profits. The Board of Trade is preparing an exhaustive report on thc cost of conducting the butchery business. and there is every probability ..of the trade being subjected to a maximum tariff which will give some advantage to those who do their own delivering. Bread will receive similar attention. As was indicated some time ago, there is some chaiicc of a slight reduction on thc present prices. In regard to butter, reduction was effected by the Government ’s levy scheme. This, no doubt, has encouraged the administration to take furthen steps along, the line of controlling prices. A more liberal scale of allowances and assistance for men who are conscripted and who have large financial and personal obligations, will be announced during the week. Thc Government is much oven the organisation of the homo service section,, composed of men who have been conscripted, but who are medically unfit for active service. AVhop, they are drawn from useful war winning trades they go back to work with the promise to remain in that occupation. The question of traasfenring a man from one of the “luxury” occupations to some more vital industry is fraught with difficulties, as wage sand apprenticeship restrictions have" to be considered.