South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-17
No PRICE BREAK
POSSIBLE TILL
UNREST Goes
British Food Secretary Says
Normal Conditions Must Pre-
cede Lower Living Costs.
~ Associated Press:

shortage OF commodities until the
widespread social and industrial IN
rest has disappeared and the war
shattered economic machinery has
been put in order. according TO
Charles A. McCurdy, parliamentary
I secretary to the ministry of food.
McCurdy added that he was not
particularly optimistic over the
chances Of any marked betterment
OF the situation in the near future.
I'VE have bolshevism at one end
OF the world and widespread strikes
at the other" said Mr.. McCurdy,
"and not until society resumes its
normal course can we right econ
omic conditions.
1T is very difficult TO prophesy
regarding the food situation Of the
future in view OF the fact that the
whole economic structure Of the
world has been so badly dislocated.
There is hardly any factor Of bust
ness that Is stable. ana we do not
know what wages are 10 be. AS
result of these conditions the regu-
lar channels of distribution are dis
organized and until they are nor
NAL IL will be impossible TO tell
what effective supplies there are as
compared with the world stocks.
Abundance is Fictitious.
Whine it is true that America,
England 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 fictitious one, and ma.
not last. Great sections OF the
world are actually hungry because
Of the impossibility of distributing
supplies properly. If the channels
OF distribution were open and the
economic conc .tions were such that
foodstuffs could be purchased by
those countries which need them
we probably would find ourselves
faced with a shortage in many
things.
For example, if the people of
central Europe should be in posi-
ton next year 10 purchase the meat
they need there would be world
shortage of several million tons
1t is improbable that they will be
able to buy but it is impossible to
predict so far in advance. l be-
lieve that a year from now things
will have been brought to a head
and that the world will be facing
its most critical time.
Some Are Starving.
There are those who tell me
that I am wrong in my outlook and
that there will be no shortage, but
1 can figure il no other way. There
certainly are many countries now
which are securing far below what
they need I'm the way of foodstuffs
and when the time comes for them
to buy, it will be impossible to re-
fuse them their fair share of what
the world produces. We cannot let
one part OF the world starve while
another section has plenty.
There is another factor 10 be
considered also. Where production
has been stimulated during the war
it must ultimately revert to normal
II is not natural as it stands. In
the United States. for instance. the
meat production has been artificial
ly stimulated and It is hard to esti-
mate when this temporary condi-
ton will vanish. America next year
may be an importer of meat, in
stead of a big exporter. See what
that would mean to the rest, Of the
world.
ION the other hand, production
has been crippled in many coun-
tries In this case the process Of
getting back to normal is likely to
be slower than in the case of the
war stimulated production.
In Europe as a whole there l.
an actual shortage Of II percent ir
sheep and a larger shortage in
pigs. Because of this Europ'
would have TO import $500. 900 ton:
of meat this coming year, IL it were
TO return TO its pre-war cOnsump-
ton.
IN regard TO wheat. the export
able surplus of the world is down
compared with that before tn
war. Import requirements at the
same time are up. The same thin
is true OF butter and in some coun-
tries its consumption has been in
creased by the lack of margarine
There is also a sugar shortage. The
beet sugar production has dropped
off 100000 tons I'm Europe sine
1914. The cane sugar production
of the world meantime has in
creased but only 100000 tons.
Meaning OF Phenomenon.
"In discussing prices we mus
consider the meaning OF the phe-
nomenon in the United State
where there is no food shortage bu
an eNportable surplus. The foo6
supply Is above normal. and yet tn
prices has advanced almost pro
portionately with the increase If
Great Britain which is largely ar
importing country. This curiou
situation makes one realize that II
estimating food prices the economi,
effects peculiar 10 foOdstuffs are
not the determining factor. but
economic conditions as a whole.
There seems to be a tendency
in many countries TO expend war
wages and PROFITS on consumption.