New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-02
SCOTLAND PAYS
HIGH FOR FOOD
Big Increase in Retail
Prices Largely Due to
Freight Rates.

Glasgow. June IS Ocean freight
rates are playing havoc with The retail
prices Of food in Scotland Despite the
fact that food, as well as other articles,
at available world sources is plentiful
transportation and insurance costs are
so high that the retail prices OF all
articles, especially food continue to
advance. A recent estimate Of the in
crease Of food prices throughout the
whole Of the United Kingdom placed
the average advance since the begin
ming Of the war at So per cent.
Merchants hold out no hope 10 con-
sumers that food prices will decline in
the near future. They point our that
while America. Argentina, Australia
and New Zealand all are full of food
awaiting Shipment food freights are
higher now than they were last season
and that, II anything, the level Of
prices may be slightly advanced.
The statement that no general de-
cline can be looked for is based on a
survey Of conditions at present govern
ing the markets. At the sources many
food products and many feeding stuifs
used in the production Of food are not
much dearer than before the war, but
freights have raised their price on
this side. The bacon producer, for in
stance, is faced with S6204 for his
maize, against 5000 before the war.
With other cereals proportionately
dearer, the cost of pig feeding has
been practically doubled. This means
that the price Of bacon will remain
high.
Cheese affords another object lesson
in the burden Of freights. Before the
war a ton of cheese could be brought
from New York for $60S; to-day, in
freights and other expenses, it costs
S7299. Incidentally, the case Of cheese
illustrates the difference between con-
trolled and uncontrolled tonnage.
While the weeks passage from New
York works out at S7299 a ton for
cheese, the cost Of the six weeks pas
sage from New Zealand, which is a con-
trolled route is only S2919. These
charges have raised the price of cheese
TO an exceptional point; yet, compared
with fish or beef and mutton. cheese is
still a comparatively reasonable food
stuff The high price Of fish is due to
the wars interference with trawlinG.
and, these conditions being unchanged,
no relief in the fish market can be ex-
pected.
Eggs will remain above normal level
so long rs the Baltic is closed and
there is difficulty in getting overseas
supplies.
Butter is certain TO continue scarce
during the war With a decrease in
supplies from France, with Holland
sending practically all her supplies into
Germany. with Denmark's production
very much less Denmark usually con-
tributed between one-third and one
half of Britains total imports of but
ter-and with restrictions on the ex-
port Of Russian supplies. the public
must accept dear butter as inevitable.
For some months Denmark has by
arrangement been sending so per cent
Of her surplus butter 10 Great Britain,
leaving only 20 per cent available for
Germany, although the latter IS giving
Denmark y cents a pound more for her
butter.
There is prospect that the Russian
embargo on exports Of Siberian butter
may be partially relaxed Representa-
tons in this direction have been made
by the British FOREIGN Office. and hopes
are entertained tina, some expectation
20 the United Kingdom Will be per
mittcd. But the merchants will regard
themselves as fortunate if they receive
as much as 10000 or 10000 tons this
year. The usual annual contribution
from Russia is 10000 tons.
In the meat markets war conditions
have left Scotland practically depend
ent on home-fed supplies The army
and the navy have the first call on
frozen and chilled shiDments, and only
when there IS a surplus does any for
cign meat fnd it's way to the public
markets. Glasgow has been receiving
very small quantities lately.
These foreign meats were formerly
bought largely by the poorer classes
because Of their cheapneSs. Their alb
sence from the market has consider
ably narrowed down the margin OF
prices between first class and second
and third classes Of meats. thus max
ing all the harder the lot of those who
cannot afford to pay when the market
rises. Prices have reached record hg-
ures. and no relief is expected unu!
the Irish grsss-fed cattle are marketed
in July. Compared with May, 1896, a
wear in which cattle touched the lowest
point recorded, present rates show an
advance Of 40 per cent, and the
chances are that July Will find beef