Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-28
FOOD CONTROLLER
FIXES ALL PRICES
English Dictator's List Includes
All Prime Articles of
Foodstuffs.
RATloNINe ExPEDIENT USED
Supply to Hotels and Restaurants
Regulated. and Many Take
Economy Pledges.
RATloNING ExPEDIENT USED

LONDON. October 27.-The foodstuns
which are controlled, either as to price
or supply. or both. by tho food con-
troller make up a good-szed list.
prime articles of food-bread. -four.
oatmeal. barley. maize. rice, meat.
bacon. ham lard. butter, cheese, dry
peas and beans. potatoes. sugar. tea
and corree tthe cheaper gradcs). milk
and Jam.
The control Of food began las. year.
and its FIRST aim was TO conserve sup
plies. Mr. Eunciman. of the Board Of
Trade. was the earliest. though un-
official. food controller and in Novem-
Der and December Of last year he began
the issue Of regulations OF the kind
which has since become so familiar
IL was towards the close Of las, year
that food controller U.ord Devon
port) was appointed. and ne began his
work by issuing orders that laid down
the prices OF whea, and potatoes.
Shortly afterwards he fixed the price
OF milk and assumed control OF tho
tmportations OF rice. This was the
time OF meatless and potatoiess days.
The expedient Of rationing was first
adopted in the case OF sugar, and the
failure to secure a fair and even dis
tribution was as marked IL was
little later in regard 10 potatoes \
scheme of voluntary rationins was put
forward and with these measures in
force. supplemented by list of max
imum prices for the provision trade
and a separate little order fixing the
price OF swedes. we approached the
period OF greatest anxiety. The order
regulating the supply OF meals in
hotels and restaurants was frightened
Up and a prohibition was placed on the
production OF fancy cakes and pastry.
II was also determined that Hour ana
rice. barley. oats and maize must be
used only for humLn food. Early IN
May the King issued proclamation
calling upon the people 10 economiIe
in food. and following th>, there was
a purple ribbon campaign for pledge
takers.
One of the las, orders promulgated
BY Lord Devonport before he lett Of
flee regulated the sale " tat cattle and
all meat. BY requiring a dealer who
bought fat cattle, sheep. lambs. md pigs
to give an undertaking 10 slaughter
within fourteen days. ard by laying
down conditions for the sale OF dead
meat. the policy Of eliminating the
middleman (Which Loro Ehondda has
steadily followed MAS begun.
Upon assuming office AS Food Con-
troller. Lord Rhondda announced tina,
his first effort would be directed to-
wards securing a reduction in the price
of bread, but as it turned on; the price
of butchers mea. was reduced first.
Meat prices were soaring TO unprecc-
denied heights in July. but in August
a natural decline set in. and in many
parts OF the country Lord Rhondda'.
order did not Immediately make
marked difference in retail prices. That
was so In Manchester. where 'o-day
prices are below the maximum Lord
Rhondda had anticipated that prob
ably, during the first month or two at
any rate the maximum would not be
reached In a number OF places The
full effect Of the order will not be felt
for some months. II makes successive
reductions In prices until January. by
when. Lord Rhondda calculates, there
will have been a total reduction In the
price OF beef to the consumer OF thirteen
cents per pound. The retailers profit
is limited to 90 per cent on the price
he pays. or to an average of FIVE cents
rer pound. whichever is the less Tho
Food Control Committees which have
been set up have the power TO fix the
prices OF part,cLla: JONI. Whether
this Is done or not the butcher has TO
exhibit in conspicuous pos,tion the
prices he charges lie must also keen
records to show whether or not he is
complying with the order.
Bread And Flour.
II was at the beginning OF This wear
that war bread" became compulsory
it has since changed both in ruaIity
and price. In March sale by weight
was made obligatory. and at the same
time 1t was required that bread must
be twelve hours old before it was
sold. The Manchester bakers fixed the
price OF the 2-pouEd loaf at sOlo when
sold over the counter and S0lS when
delivered Since then the price has
risen 10 so.!3 for the 2-pound loaf and
1924 for the quartern loaf The quar-
tern loaf, by the Controllers order. is
now TO be s0.1S, reduction Of price
which. as ]. r. Clyncs has stated
may put a burden of $40, 600, 900 wear
IN the National Exchequer The price
OF -four is reduced in corresponding
degree.
Sugar.
sugar was the first commodity of the
meal table to be seriously affected nv
war conditions. a serious shortage was
inevitable. In February of this year
Lord Devonports calculation was thai
the distribution made by the Sugar
Commissioners was equivalent 10
three quarters of a pound per head Of
the population per week. Later tke
nominal average allowance was re-
duced to one-halt pound
The complaints OF unequal distribu-
ton have been incessant and lave
quite drowned the relatively negligible
grumhling at TIE large increase In
price. The position at the moment Is
that Lord Rhondda is putting into
force suSar-card scheme, which Is
designed to prevent purchasers draw