The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1917-12-03
Rules Less Drastic Than Ger
many's, But Less Lax
Than Ours.
EXPLAINED BYlORD RHONDDl
Chief Aim ls to Safeguard the inter-
est Of Consumers First OF Ali
imposes Little compul.
sorry Rationine.

United States, Great Britain and Ger
many.
The German idea Is strict rationing
Of the consumer, and recently the Unit
ed States food administration issued
figures showing the present German
ration, which is meager as to variety
and far below average dietetic re-
quirements.
The American idea in food saving is
to secure voluntary cooperation, as far
as possible, from both the public and
the producer and handlers Of food ar
ticles.
The British idea lies between the
two. AS little compulsory rationing as
possible is imposed upon the general
public. But there is farreaching and
rigid supervision of all food articles
by regulating the manufacturers and
merchants, by the establishment Of
maximum prices, and after December
30 rationing cards are to be issued for
sugar.
What Lord Rhondda Says.
A statement just issued by Lord
Rhondda, the British food controller,
describing the British system of food
control gives succinct and a clear
picture for comparison of the food-sav-
ing measures which are now being. fol-
lowed in the United States.
Lord Rhondda says:
'My aim is to safeguard the inter-
ests of the consumer, to do away with
profteering altogether, and to prevent
excessive profits of any kind. The
framework of our machinery is formed
on the civil service. They are the adj.
ministrators, but in all cases we Sc
cure the best available business men to
advise them, as well as number Of
expert committees dealing with almost
every food commodity. The policy is
to limit profits at every step. from the
producer to the consumer, and at the
same time to regulate supply.
"a costings department under the
direction of chartered accountants has
been set up, through which the profits
made by any manufacturer or retailer
of food can be ascertained. The coun-
try has been divided into separate
areas. in each Of which leading firm
of accountants has been appointed by
this department to do the necessary
work. Reasonable profit based on pre-
war rates is added to the present cost,
the price limits agreed on that basis,
after consultation with the representa-
tives Of the trades concerned.
Sixteen Food Divisions.
Decentralization is obtained by d.
viding Great Britain into 10 food d.
visions, consisting of so many coun-
ties. Each division Is under the SUI
perintendence of a commissioner ap-
pointed by the food controller. In
each of these divisions the borough,
urban or rural district councils, or
other local authorities, appoint local
food committees, with limited powers
and certain discretion, to carry out
such regulations as regards price and
distribution as may be issued from
headquarters.
'Local tradesmen are registered with
their local committees, and if any
tradesman does not carry out regula-
tons and orders he may be struck off
the register and prevented from fur
Their trading. The various orders fix
ing or amending the maximum prices
Of meat, milk, potatoes, bread, ETC., are
communicated to the local committees,
| and the trades and public are informed
| through the daily and trades press. A
staff of inspectors is kept at headquar-
tiers, and number of sentences have
been imposed by magistrates through
| out the country for contravention of
the regulations. The general penalty
is fine not exceeding 500, or term
of six months Imprisonment, with or
without hard labor, or both. This pun
ishment may be inflicted for every sew
eral offense. I purpose to make the
penalties more severe.
"While the prices Of practically all
essential foods are now under control,
no compulsory rationing is imposed on
the general public, although all public
eating places are rationed as to the
amount of meat, -four, bread and sugar
which may be used In every week on
the basis of an average for each meal.
After December 80 only half pound
Of sugar per capita will be permitted.
This will be obtainable through sys-
tenn of each consuming householder or
consumer registering with specified
retailer, and securing from the local
food committee a card emitting his
household an himself to the ration. The
retailer will keep record Of his deliv-
cries to insure his not supplying any
one customer in one week with more
than the -proper allowance. Arrange
ments for the issue of these cards are
in progress, and they will form the
groundwork should it become neces-
sary later on to ration other food
stuffs.
Restrictions In Manufacturing.
"There are many restrictions in man.
ufacturing. Flour made from wheat
must be straight-run -four, milled to 81