New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-27
British Controller Will In
vestigate Costs and
Profits
Appeal to u. S. Farmer
Prothero Says Outcome OF
War May Depend on Amer
lean Production

London. June 26.-The first order OF
BARON Rhondda, the new food con-
;roller. issued to-day, announces the
formation Of n department to arrive at
accurate figures as to the cost OF 1906
% as 70 enable the controller to hX
prices.
Baron Rhondda has decided thai IN
order TO limit any further rise IN
nrices of the more important foodstuhs
and as far as possible TO reduce the
present level of nrices, It VIII ne neces,
sarv 70 institute much stricter ana
more complete measures or controi OF
the industries engaged in the produc-
ton of foodstuffs.
MANY prices" says Baron khondda
n the statement announcing the ne"
denar.ment's formation, require TO be
enforced by strict control from tne
nroducer 70 the retailer. with the OBJ
Jet Of limiting the profits at ever
stage from production to distributor
to a fair remuneration for the services
rendered.
Costs To BE First Study
no frS' step Is 10 NfNSi III A' wv
exact cost Of production and handling.
For that purpose steps have been taken
Ia set up costing department IN the
Ministry Of Food Of accountants. VINO
will have full powers 70 examine books
end obtain all particulars which may
assist the Controller in arriving at &C
curate figures as 20 cost
The object of the control will be TO
., 70
with the addition OF the normal pre-
war rate Of profit, independent Of mar
ke. fluctuations, which has already en-
abled the army authorities to purchase
many Of their essential supplies at
prices considerably below the mar ket
prices ruling for civil consumption
American Farmers Part
a survey of the food situation in
Great Britain and the part the United
States is expected 20 plav was made
to-day in a statement TO The Associated
Press by z. f.. Prothero. Minister OF
Agriculture.
"Discontent Of the stomach is more
10 be feared than discomfort Of the
brain that is Why we value the CO.
operation Of American farmers" ha
said. "The outcome OF the war" he
went on, ultimately may hang on the
question of food supplies. and 70 the
, American farmer is allotted the essen
tial part 10 play in the great struggle
for freedom"
This declaration. with note of well
come 20 agriculturists across the sea,
who ARE determined 10 use every ounce
OF their strength 20 win the war on the
plough lands of the United States was
the keynote Of the ministers message
TO the American farmer.
Replying TO question as 70 what the
United Kingdom is doing in the way of
food production, Mr.. Prothero said that
fully one-third Of labor usually en-
ploved on land has been taken for war
work.
"Shorthanded. harassed by hun
dred new difficulties, the farmers are
Goggedly struggling 70 increase grain
production by half" continued the min
4 ister. Upward OF 10000 women in
England and Wales. old and young
drawn from every section of the coun-
try. arc toiling on land. toiling hard
+ and continuously. We have duadrupled
our garden plots. After a hard day
work men return 20 their homes 10 la
Dor. with their wives, in their gardens
There has been no complaint cor
corning breadstuffs substituted for thC
wheaton loaf. Brewing has been re
Guced 10 a minimum. This is a seri
/ Gus derivation to men working at FUR
naces. in foundries and harvest fields
For generations they have been accus
toned 10 the use Of beer and believe
in the aid il gives them. II comes q
be part Of their daily diet. and they
know Of 10 substitute to replace 1t.
Cattle To Be Fewer
Owe are further contemplating ;
drastic reduction of our livestock. 50
more grain may be available for human
food
Mr.. Prothcro then discussed tn