Evening star., 1943-08-08
0pA Survey Shows
Stores Are Observing
Basic Food CeiIinqs..

Nearly 90 per. cent of the 1900
retail food stores in the District
have now posted and are observing
ceiling prices on the II basic food
items covered in recent .OPA sur
veys, Director Robert K. ,Tnomp-
son of the District Once Of Price
Administration reported last night.
The OPAs newly organized price
panels have been responsible for an
30 Der cent increase In compliance
in the last few weeks, Mr.. Thomp-.
son said. .......:.
A survey made early last month
indicated that Approximately 81 per
cent OF all District food retailers
either had failed 10 post or were
disreeardine maximum prices on
one or more Of the IL basic food
items.
Since that time, all stores found
in violations have been re-surveyeo
hy price panel assistants. Mr..
Thompson explained. He said the
latest survey has shown "conslo-
erable improvement" in both pric-
ing and posting. .... ....
In cases where violations on one
of the II items were found on the
second visit, the retailer has been
called before his neighborhood price
panel for a friendly conference"
Mr.. Thompson said. The panels
have reported so far that out OF 70
such conferences held, the retailer
in each case promised to comply
with OPA price regulations.
The crew Of price panel assistants
now is engaged in checking once
again to see il these retailers have
kept their promises, Mr.. Thompson
reported.
Want Full Compliance.
The District OPA director ex-
pressed belief that the recent sur
veys. though covering only the IL
selected basic food items, have
caused retailers to comply to \
greater extent with price-ceiling
regulations on other foods. ...
Strengthening out the mistakes
made by retailers on one item
should, and undoubtedly will rehect
Improvement on all other items" he
said.
The nrice panels soon will extend
their work to include q survey OF
other food prices, the OPA head
indicated. The job will not be COM
plete, he said. until there Is 100
Der cent compliance in all stores.
To Check on Brands. =
The price panel assistants, now
numbering about 900, also will begin
within the next week a survey to-
determine what brands of foods are
commonly sold by District stores,
Uu to this time, it was explained, the
community price lists issued here
have included only prices on brands
distributed by Washington whole
salers. The OPA has discovered that,
some washington retailers buy their
food products. from Baltimore and
other out-of- town wholesalers, and
on the basis of the coming survey
will extend the community, price
lists to cover many brands not pre-
viouslv included.
Additional volunteers are. needed
TO serve as price panel assistants in
the expanding price control pro-
gram here, Mr.. Thompson said.
Directing an appeal to all house
wives who wish to do something
shout prices instead Of Just talk
about them" Mr.. Thompson asked
that persons who can give from two
to four hours a week of volunteer
service either telephone or write
the price clerk of their nearest
ration board. The price clerk will
uut the volunteer in touch with a
price panel member, who will ex-
plain the work and see that the new
panel assistant is properly regis
tered with the Civilian Defense
Volunteer ONCE. it was said.