The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-13
BREAD CHEAPER IN
LONDON THAN IN us.
Government Protects Con-
sumer From Greedy
Middlemen.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 10
Bread is cheaper today in London
han in New FORK, or any other large
city in the United States.
The retail price OF bread in London
is pence us centsJ Tor the standard
i.pound loaf, or "a cents .ound.
In the majority OF cities III HE Tinted
States loaves weighing ~ or Is ouaces
when baked are selling iii ,e3ts
Thus the predominant price OF pounA
of bread in American cities ranges
from IA to 8 cents, or from "a 10
a per cent. higher than in ou4on!
Even before the recent I'M. case o.
bread prices from . to cents ocI
loaf, the price per pound in the United
States was from 10 TO IS per cent.
higher than in London.
These statements are based upon
authoritative reportes OF the British
food commission and the united
States bureau of labor statistics.
The big quesEon-WHG is not
answered by either OF these authori-
tives, but some light is aIa.laD.e from
other sources.
Bread has always been cheaper ii
London than in the United States. ev.
en- with the higher price OF impor. cd
wheat with Its added charges for u-ea.
freights and commissions. Milling ana
baking. like every class OF produc
ton and distribution, are done OH
narrower margins in England. The
tariff board found that all kinds OF
textiles. which had the same produc
ton cost on both sides of the Allan.
tic, regularly retailed considerably
lower in England. The manufacturer.
the jobber, and the retailer all took
smaller margins.
This smaller margin-taking was
made easier because Of the use of
the large four-pound loaf in England.
with its consequent lower labor cost
and less frequent distribution, and By
the fact that all English bread is un.
wrapped.
This accounts for the difference be.
fore the war. The maintenance of
an even more favorable English price
during war times in the face of enor.
mously increased ocean freights can
only be attributed to one fact:
Every European nation, neutral and
belligerent. has taken steps to pro-
tect the price Of the peoples food,
while the United States has left the
whole question to the private and ten.
der mercies OF the producers and the
indictment!
At the very beginning Of the war
the British parliament passed a bill,
one clause Of which provided that
III the board Of trade are of the opin.
ion that any foodstuff Is being unrea.
sonably withheld from the market
they may take possession
Of any supplies and pay to the owner
such prices as may, in default Of agree
ment, be decided to be reasonable By
a Judge Of the high court selected by
the lord chief justice OF England"
At the same time lists of prices
were issued by the committee on food
supplies. which. while not compulsory
served as warning to dealers and
placed q powerful weapon In the hands
of British consumers. The people had
the gun. and the dealers, like Davy
Crocketts coon, came down.
This year, with tho problem OF
world crop shortage to meet, the Brit.
ish government has taken complete
control of the purchase and t,istcita.
tion of wheat and will oversee not
only the distribution in the interests
OF economical consumption, but also
its price until the bread is safely in
the hands Of the consumer.