Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1917-12-13
Britain FIXES
PRICES OF FOOD
Rules Less drastic Than Ger.
mays, But Less Lax
Than Ours.
EXPLAINED EyLeaD RHONDDt
Vhlef Aim Is to Safeguard the Inter
est Of Consumers First Of ALL
Imposes Little compm.
sorry Ratiouino.

est OF Consumers First Of ALL
Imposes Little compu.
sorry Ratiouino.
Neutrality-suspicious. general policies
IN food saving are now being main
tanned by three great nations, tn,
United States, Great Britain and Ger
many.
The German Idea Is strict rationins
of the consumer, and recently the Unit
Ell 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
MS possible, from both the public and
the producer and handlers of food ar.
tlcles.
The British idea lies between the
two. As little compulsory rationlng as
possible Is imposed upon the general
public. But there Is a farreaching and
rigid supervision Of all food articles
by regulating the manufacturers and
merchants, by the establishment of
maximum prices, and after December
30 rationlng 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
profiteering altogether. and to proven
excessive profits of any kind. Thu
framework of our machinery Is forms,
on the civil service. They are the I'D
illustrators, but in all cases we So
cure the best available business men Ia
advise them. as well as number OF
expert committees dealing with almOs,
every food commodity. The policy {
to limit profits at every step from thu
producer to the consumer and at IN,
same time to regulate supply.
"A costings department under tn
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 necessar,
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-
lives Of the trades concerned.
, Sixteen Food Divisions.
. Decentralization Is obtained by d..
ridlng Great Britain into 10 food di.
visions, consisting of so many coun.
lies. Each division Is under the su.
berintendence Of commissioner ap.
pointed by the food controller. In
each Of these divisions the borough.
nrban or rural district councils, or
other local authorities. appoint local
food committees, with limited powers
hnd certain discretion. to carry out
euch regulations as regards price and |
distribution as mny be issued from
headquarters.
: Local tradesmen are registered with |
their local committees. and II any
does not carry out regula-
lions and orders he may be struck or |
the register and prevented from fur
Their trading. The various orders Ak.
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-
ters, 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 800. or a term
Vt six months Imprisonment. with or
without hard labor, or both. This pun.
shment may be inflicted for every sew.
rral ofrense. I purpose to make the
penalties more severe.
"WhIlc The prices Of practically all
essential foods are now under control.
no compulsory rationing Is imposed on
he general public. although all public
,ating places are rrtioned as to the
mount Of meat. -four. bread and sugar
which may be used In every week on
he basis Of an average for each meal.
After December 20 only half a pound
II sugnr per capita will be permitted.
This will be obtainabie through a sys-
EN- Of each consuming householder or
consumer registering with q specified
and occurring from tho loceI
God committee 4 card emitting his
'ousehcid OF Aiusslf to the rstioa. The
etailer will keep 4 record OF his deiIv.
'ries 10 iAsure ~ aot supplying any
me customer In one week with more
han the proper allowance. Arrange
Dents for the Issue Of these cards are
q progress, and they will form the
shovid Il become neces-
airy later % 10 ration other food