The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1919-12-20
NO RELIEF In SIGHT
FROM HIGH COSTS in
NEAR FUTURE
British Food Expert Expects
Crisis to Come in One
Year
STRIKES AT ONE END,
BOLSHEVISM AT OTHER
No Shortage in United States,
Yet Prices Are
Soaring

London, Dec. 13.-The world can
expect no relief from the present
high cost of living and the shortage
of commodities until the widespread
social and industrial unrest has dis
appeared and the war-shattered eco
nomic machinery has been put in or
der,according to Charles A. McCurdy,
parliamentary secretary to the minis
try of food. Mr.. McCurdy expressed
this view during an interview with a
correspondent Of the Associated Press
and added that he was net particular
" optimistic over the chances of any
marked betterment of the situation in
the near future.
eve have bolshevism at one end of
the world and widespread strikes at
the other" said Mr.. McCurdy, land
not until society resumes its normal
course can we right economic condi-
tions.
at is very difficult to prophesy re-
garding the food situation of the flu
ture in view of the fact that the whole
economic structure of the world has
been so badly dislocated. There is
hardly any factor of business that is
stable, and we do know what wages
are to be. AS result of these condi-
tions the regular channels of distribu-
ton are aisorganized, and until they
are normal it will be impossible to
tell what effective supplies there are
as compared with the world stocks.
Great World Sections Hungry
"While it is true that America, Eng
land and some other countries are
sufficiently supplied now so that
there is no distress among the peo-
pie, yet this comparative abundance
is in reality a fictitious one and may
not last. Great sections of the world
are actually hungry because of the
impossibility Of distributing supplies
properly. If the channels Of distribu-
ton were open and the economic
conditions were such that foodstuffs
could be purchased by those coun-
tries which need them, we probably
would find ourselves faced with a
shortage in many things.
''For example, if the peoples OF
central Europe should be in position
next year to purchase the meat they
need, there would be a world short
age of several million tons. 1t is i'm
probable that they will be able to buy
but it is impossible to predict so far in
advance. l believe year from now
things will have been brought to a
head, and that the world will be fac
ing its most critical time.
"There are those who tell me that
am wrong in my outlook, and that
there will be no shortage, but / can
figure it no other way. There certain
~ are many countries now which are
obtaining far below what they need
in the way of foodstuffs, and when
the time comes for them to buy it will
be impossible to refuse them their
fair share of what the world produces,
We can not let one part of the world
starve while another section has
plenty.
Stimulated Production
"There is another factor to be con-
sidered also. Where production has
been stimulated during the war it
must ultimately return to normal. II
is not natural as it stands. In the
United States, for instance the meat
production has been artificially slim
ulated, and it is hard to estimate
when this temporary condition will
vanish. America next year may be
an importer of meat, instead of big
exporter. See what that would mean
to the rest of the world.
"on the other hand, production has
been crippled in many countries. In
this case the process of>getting back
to normal is likely to be slower than
in the case of the war-stimulated pro-
duction.
"In Europe as a whole there is an
actual shortage of IL per cent in
sheep and larger shortage in pigs.
Because of this Europe would have to
import 100000 tons of meat this
coming year, if it were to return to its
pre-war consumption.
I'm regard to wheat, the exportable
surplus Of the world is down compar-
ed with that before the war. Import