BRITAIN'S FOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1920, Page 5

BRITAIN'S FOOD.

FLOUR TO BE DEARER. CONTROL SYSTEM TO CONTINUE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received March 10,12.35 a.m. London, March 8. In the House of Commons at question time, Mr. Lloyd George stated the Government had decided that the abolition of the bread subsidy was inadvisable at present, but a substantial 'reduction in the estimate for the current financial year was imperative. Consequently the wholesale price of flour would be raised by IBs 3d per sack of 280 pounds on March 15th.

Also the average rate of extraction which must be obtained from wheat would be raised from seventy-seven to eighty per cent, in order to ensure that the benefit on the increased value of traders' stocks shall pass to the consumer or the taxpayer. No advance in the retail price of flour or bread would be permitted until April 12th. Arrangements have been made to check traders' stocks. The estimated reduction in the subsidy would amount to about £45,000,000 in the current financial year. —lmperial Service. Received March 0, 5.5 p.m. London, March 4. In the House of Commons, Mr. W. CBridgeman (Parliamentary Secretary to tlip Board of Trade), denied that Australasian meat stocks were Ijeld up. The pr:c-e of mutton would shortly be reduced. The Daily Mail says Cabinet has decided to retain food control for five years, increasing the Food Ministry's powers to fix prices and control distribution.—United Service.