The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-03-12
BRITISH FAVOR
CONTINUATION OF
FOOD CONTROL
Consumers Satisfied With
Government Policy,
By Robert Wsllss Ritchi,.


Universal Service Stan Correspondent }
LONDON, March l2-OBy MALI
That the government should continue
20 regulate the sources. distribution
and price OF food after wartime ur-
gcncy has passed might appear 10
Americans al first glance as a far step
toward a socialistic state. But a sub !.
committee oi the British Consumers
council. which is board under the
ministry OF food, has Incorporated
this recommendation for continued
government supervision OF Britain's
food supply IN its report
A practical government monopoly Of
imported ioodStuifs would. ~ the com
ml,,ee's opinion. "be powerful
weapon not only against . foreign
trust, but also against . Shipping
ring Moreover. so far as domestic
food producers are concerned. govern
men, supervision even in these times
OF the cessation OF hostllitie, would
prevent pernlciou' proiiieering IN the
opinion Of the consumers council, and
should be continued.
In iur'heranee OF lis profession, on
chs score. this body recently adopted
the following resolution:
That the government should con
tinue to purchase and impor, essential
foods,ufis from overseas, and should
pake all necessary step, through the
control Of imported ioodstuii,. TO
maintain supplies and control prices"
Until there ~ reasonable Certainty
that an adequate food supply for the
British Isles is assured. and that free
dom from control OF the food minis.
try and us subordinate boards will
mot impair equable distribution At a
reasonable price. the state should
continue to he the rugla,ing body IN
the matter Of vic,ualing.
To this end the subcommittee rec
ornmend, that registration OF custom.
ers at the retail food shops, which
has been in operation under the food
control bill. shall not he abandoned
until full supplies are in sigh,--and
nt present England is far from being
completely fed; that the coupon sys.
TEN OF food purchases should he abfo-
gated as soon as = safe food margin
bs guaranteed, bu, tina, the government,
liking OF retail price, should be main
tained until conditions are anchor.
s,ed.
In its interim report the committee
expresses two general conclusions,
unanimously reached These are:
(O The effectiveness and beneficial
result, OF control (inoluding control
Of trsnsporO have been manifest in
keeping the price Of commodities a,
. reasonable level TO the consumer,
and the Subcommittee will accord
ingly go more fully into the whole
)ratier with view 10 bringing def
bite proposals before the consumers
fountil for the coordination OF the
INHERENT departments affecting the
well-being OF tkr people.
tb) That this ub-commitiee. while
strongly in favor OF abroga,ing forth
with all the measures which have
been enacted under tho defense OF
The realm act in restriction OF per-
Ponal freedom OF every kind, expres,
their opinion that Il would be
great ml,iof,uns to the country IL the
admirable service rendered by the
ministry of food and its various com
mittees were put an end to. the sub
committee being firmly convinced tina.
30 ordination in production and dis
kribution, under central control, has
proved exceedingly advantageous to
lhe whole community during the war
md will prove equally to their ad-
vantage in time of peace. This policy
should therefore he continued and
aayelopcd as part Of the national in