FOOD PRICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1941, Page 5

FOOD PRICES

SPECULATION IN BRITAIN IMPOSITION OF TIGHTER CONTROL. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. January 7. An order will shortly be made, coming into operation on Monday next, making it illegal to sell a large range of unrationed foodstuffs at prices higher than prevailed on December 2. Lord Woolton said: "I am convinced that a considerable number of new people are coming into the food trade as dealers and middlemen, and as option buyers. They are operating on a market in which you cannot lose, only because the reduction of our imports of certain classes of commodities render those articles a very profitable field for speculation.

' "The issue of the order is the first i stage in stabilising prices at those i operating on December 2, The next stage is that during the course of a month from now we will issue a price order for all these articles, which will be drawn up in consultation with the trade and having regard to the prices current on December 2. I have reason to know that in taking this action I have the support of legitimate traders, food manufacturers, and wholesalers and retailers. The food traders in Britain have done a good job since the outbreak of the war. and I do not want to have it spoilt by the introduction of speculation “ MEAT RATIONS QUANTITY TO VARY. ON ACCOUNT OF DIVERSION OF SHIPPING It is announced in L >nd<m, tin 8.8. C. stales, that m: account i f thv diversion ot shipping to the Middle East, it has been decided that the meat ration in the United Kingdom sh.dL vary from is t<> p od worth .a n.<--a per head per week. The ration L.w . the current week :s Is 2d worth