The New York herald., 1920-01-04
CANADA ON THE
TRAIL OF H. C.L.
AND THE PACKERS
Board of Commerce to lnvesti-
gate the Increase of Prices
and High Tariff.
ESPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HrsALD.14

ESPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HERALD.I
OTTAWA, Ontario. Saturday.-Activities
~ the Board of Commerce acquire an
International aspect in the announcement
this week that the operation of the pro-
tective tariff as a factor in the cost of
living and also the Decentralization
OF packing plants are to form subjects Of
investigation. Tho Board, created last
autumn, is steadily expanding the scope
OF its operations and exercising the very
vide powers that have been conferred
upon it. That the United States may
adopt similar system comes as favorable
news to Canada, because ii is realized
that cooperation between two such bodies
would be very effective where the two
countries, In almost every line Of COM
merce and the resultant problems, have
20 much in common.
The investigation Of the tariff Is not.
specifically, function OF the Board, but
It has power to investigate anything that
bears upon the price Of commodities In
general. Preliminary inquiries which
have been made are regarded as support
ing the theory that many Canadian manu-
facturers benefit, inordinately. from the
present conditions. This has been the
case, particularly, during and since the
war when, owing to several conditions,
imports from Great Britain have fallen
off greatly.
Tariff Il Blamed.
Figures which have been compiled by
the Boards investigators show that in
cotton fabrics. for example, the present
tariff against the United States. along
with the special war tax, Is just 100 per
cent more than against Great Britain, to
which a preferential tariff applies. On
account of shipping, exchange and after
war industrial conditions the goods are
-,rt hat IN fv.oyv he old nfrv
while with tariff wall of such proper
cions the Canadian manufacturer has a
protection so absolute as to shut out all
effective competition To this fact Is at
trfbuted part Of the abnormal cost Of
clothing and other fabrics and hence the
decision to investigate the matter as bear
ing upon the cost Of living.
The Board has no power to change or
regulate the tariff. and 1t is not its inten-
ton to go further than revealing condi-
lions as they actually exist If what is
charged to be the result of this tariff con-
dition be established as q fact, however,
public opinion Is relied upon to force Par
liament to apply the necessary remedies.
In recent months tendency to merge
American and Canadian packing concerns
has been evident. The two largest COM
panies Of this kind in Canada-both Of
Them very extensive-have been linked up
with American concerns and II not wholly
controlled in the United States are to a
large extent directed from there. Com
bines are against the law Of Canada, and a
primary function Of the new Board Of
Commerce is to dissolve them where 1t Is
shown that their operation Is inimical to
the public interest
Combines Are Under Fire.
Meat and meat products are very high.
despite occasional fluctuations, and while
fhfc condition has hann aonaCial1v
nounced since tho merger. no Improvement
is In evidence. A considerable outcry is
taking place. and in many quarters the
combines are held to blame for the high
prices. Interest attaches therefore to the
announcement that not only in the in
stances cited but in all others where conf
bines are suspected Of restraint OF trade
or in undue enhancement Of prices full
investigation is to be instituted. If the
affects from these mergers are disclosed
70 be against the interests of the con-
Stunning public very ample remedial powers
are given the Board Of Commerce. They
can ORDER the dissolution of the organiza-
ttons and apply enormous penalties.
Some, conflict OF authority is resulting
Setweeh this body and the Canada Wheat
Board. The former is striving to keep
prices within reach. while allowing a rea-
Sonable margin of profit. The Wheat
Board. an organization created this year
70 handle the entire seasons wheat crop,
Is going the other way, and in endeavoring
20 secure the best price it can for the
farmer Is increasing prices.
This week the price Of wheat to millers
was raised from $3.50 to 81 so bushe
and the maximum Wholesale price of
Tour from 5000 to $3.50 barrel. The
Theat board has nothing to do with and
evidently no concern for the sonsumer.
IT'S whole function Is to sell the wheat
crop at the best advantage to the farmer.
pool the receipts. and distribute them
As a result OF the new prices ii has fixed,
An increase in bread of about four cents
a loaf is now foreshadowed by bakers
A common price heretofore has been
twelve cents. While the news is good
FOR the agricultural communities. objec-
tions are being urged by the urban
masses.
There have been allegations that the
seton Is not without a political flavor,
attributable to a desire to 'stand in with
the farmers. On behalf of the Board
This idea is secuted Its contention is that
the Canadian farmer Is entitled to the
Same price in the domestic market as
that which his commodity. II exported.
would command. and mention is made OF
the fact that the price OF flour In the
United States has been from 81 to $2 in
excess of the Canadian price. Since the
embargo was lifted by the United States
On December Is a considerable quantity
Of Canadian wheat has gone there. and
the prices that rule across the border are
ysid to be a factor In determining those
liked by the Wheat Board In disposing
" the seasons crop.
yiscount Jellicoe, who has been here a
month advising the Canadian government
IA to the form OF naval policy best suited
10 after war conditions. has completed
his work and his report Is being presented,
N sections, to the government The prln-
cipIe OF a Canadian navy is affirmed.
rrhe plan IL to start with fleet OF six
cruisers, six destroyers, dozen torpedo
boats. a like number OF submarines and
souadrons of seaplanes and small craft
che navy would be divided between the
Atlantic and Pacific seaboards and would
operate. primarily, for the protection OF
Canadian coasts and channels OF ocean
transport. Ii would be co-ordinated with
the imperial navy and in time OF war would
be under unified command OF the head OF
tha Grand Fleet Of Great Britain.
Tho visit of the Admiral. addresses he
has made In several cities and discussions
in the press have reused little apparent
enthusiasm for any extensive naval pro-
sramnne. In time OF peace. and particu-
iariy with the German naval menace re-
-. IL - h..