Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-17
GREAT BRITAIN BATTLES
WITH FOOD PROF|TEERs
Tribunals Report 1850 Offenders and
1920 Convictions Arc
Obtained.
COLLECT $4,000 FINES
Parliamentary Secretary Declares
That One Of Causes Of High Prices
Is Public Has Lost All Sense OF
What Is Reasonable.
tBy Associated Press. I

| work OF 1000 tribunals which have
prosecuted 1850 Offenders and secured
| 1890 convictions, with fines agEreEat-
ing $4,000.
Besides setting up these local tri-
! bunals to which complaints against
dealers are submitted. appeal tri-
bunals have been established in speci-
fled areas Of England. Scotland and
Wales. In addition central commit
tees also have been formed to inves-
tigatc supposed trusts or monopoIies
which may be manipulating whole
sale prices. This has been done under
| the proiiteering act
! Apart from tho prosecution OF COM
plants. the Board OF Trade. which is
charged with the administration OF
emily Investigating prices, costs and
profits OF large number OF articles
In common use. 1t has formed cost
guished accountants. which is assist
Ing the central committee In it's task.
a sub committee on trusts has been en-
powered to obtain whatever techni-
! cal and expert assistance may be re-
qulred.
| What Articles Are IncIuded.
In scope. the act applies 10 ANY
article or class of articles, which is
public" or to any material machinery
or accessories used in the production
apply to eons9ol,ed a aet eses su n1,
az butter: sugar, beer. fioor. iiauors-
commodities for which maximum prices
~ 1a de aTs o iss the t'9 Term
proiteerinE" has been a point which
has given local tribunals much dihi-
So far the definition laid down by sir
Auckland Geddes. president OF the
beard or Trade. has been accepted az
The making OF an unreasonabiy large
| profit, all the circumstances being
s,,fnsn' sy the sale to ones fellow
one Of kind. in common use"
On the moot question of what con.
stitutes an unreasonable profit" c.
70 the Ministry OF Food. recently de.
ciarcd: Ono OF the causes OF profitcer-
Ing Is the fact that the public soems
reasonable profit. A good principle for
tribunals to work upon is not TO ask
themselves whether the profit Is higher
than some one else IL charging. but Ia
me PROFIT arrived at on any reasona bl o
business principles or is 1t merely die
| 'aied ny avaricc and Ereed?"
Mr.. McCurdy has characterized tho
! psohteering act RS IAN abnormal rem
.dy FOR AN abnormal state OF public
sfts trad se' b not INTENDED harass
to normal and healthy conditions"
Critics Invite Figures.
critics OF the governmental anti
hrohiecrins machinery point to official
| Trades Labor Gazette showing that,
despite efforts TO beat down living
oSt oetos s genera ieTei Of ts'Ai prices
| ubove pre-war figures. or an increase
Or s per cent. as compared with the
level OF September / last. when the
way. But II Is not contended. even
by the laultnndecs that the increase
WOULD WOULD not have been larger had the
inc pronteers to book.
Against such objections MAY be set
such ,testimonlals as that OF tho Var
claims that reduction in Wholesale
prices by az much az IS per cent has
'e T.T nSSsicSabie 81 in that locaiitE :.
fixed At from seven to twenty five.
TWO OF whom mus, DO women Ali
somplaints arc heard in public. except
ty Of the Board of Trade Proceedings
may DO private. Books or documents
tpsstea at pciyats HEARINGS arc to
ION producing them 40 desires Labor
- represented on tho local tribunals
the members Of the committee being
j. II. Thomas. executive head of the
railway men during the recent strike.
,f the British Trades Union Congress.
| To Investigate Claims.
| Local tribunals have boon empow-
cred TO investigate all claims brought
e esrors them, and; If the allegatio1s Of
Institute proceedings against the
seller before court of summary juris-
ei mon m %hsrb mp931 oS SSnv'c'ion nes
inent, for terms no, 10 cfcecd three
months, or both, may be imposed
Ders present and voting. Any seller
sErleved by any finding OF a local
tribunal. other than a decision to taxa
! proceedings before court of summary
| jnrisdiction. may appeal TO the appeal
.ribunai for the area in which the local
tribunal Is operatng. The Institution
function Of local tribunals-thoy may
iismlss the complaint, entirely. declare
he price which would yield a reason
! able profit on the article in question,
ir require the seller to repay to tho
, excess t 81 this stipulated price
nave lists of complaints for lnvesiiga-
tion. The srticles range from nan
eied saucopans at sI.45 to spoois OF
cotton at ii cents; Westminster com
aas ehsr ssse Of 'j ss on 10
hat, another of sS5 fol-. a coat and
| skirt, and & charge OF cents Cor
Prices Being, Charged.
| Walton ON Thames committee or u
:harge Of 60 cents for a lamp shade
which. Ii was alleged, could be pur-
| chased 81 few miles distant for SO cents.
At Bangor man complained that he
had been charged 65. cents for tea for
ordered refund OF Id cents. ''''0
Effort Instituted among retail deal
srs TO check prohteering higher up
among the wholesalers-has been Of
mitch assistance to the central com
mittee in it's investigation of twelve
or more suspected price Combines"
including dea lers in boots and shoes,
cotton sheeting. tinware, blankets,
ready made clothing, soap. tobacco
Imposition OF prison sentences has
not been uncommon, although 1t has
been a general practice to impose
maximum fines In glaring cases Of
Iuilt, with threat OF imprisonment
should there be q second infraotion.
1t Is declared to be certain that
Parlinment. during Its present. sitting.
nronteerlng act shall shall aon COR In in force.
This is cited rs an Indication Of the