THE FOOD MONOPOLY IN GERMANY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12536, 6 May 1915, Page 2

THE FOOD MONOPOLY IN GERMANY.

The stoppage of food supply to Germany has given rise-to a measure known as the State food monopoly, now extended to many branches of industry so that we may almost speak of a State ownership. * In Der Tag (Berlin) MiLeo Yolles defends and examines the different phases of these estraordinary measnres. The writer insists that the State has always been misunderstood when it has taken a hand in practical economies. It" was first felt as a shock when the seizure of provisions was or'dered in Germany, the citizens naturally feeling that they were being shorn of "their private ownership rights. However, these reflections soon disappeared when it became clear that the Government was bent upon social reform on a large scale. "The State does not lay embargo on grain, flour., etc., for its own use. On the contrary, it assumes the by no means easy task of distributing the available supply so. that nobody will suffer need of daily bread. The grain monopoly, moreover, distasteful as the name may sound, is, as a matter of fact, the most charitable institution that ever was organised.'' Speaking of the grain monopoly, the writer emphasises the fact that sufficient supply must be on hand, otherwise the procedure would be Utopian. A quantity of four pounds of bread and flour is provided for each individual per week. Persons that can afford to procure other nourishment do not need four pounds. A baker will never manufacture just enough of his goods to cover the demand. There is always a certain surplus as there is a tendency of over-production in all manufacturing branches. If bakery products are reduced by one-fourth there will be a close relation between supply and demand. For the control of the grain supply there is a central distribution plan of the states and the communities, or municipalities. The provisions remain in the possession of the owners, but can only bo disposed of as the authorities-see fit. According to the plan adopted by the Government, the municipalities, as independent organisations, are entrusted with the practical solution of the whole economic question. The most important part of the programme is committed to them, which is not only a recognition of special relationship to the people, but is also the best technical solution. They must husband the quantities aliotted by themselves. .Scarcity will be out of the question, and the intention of the enemy to starve Germany has now already been thwarted. Only criminal resistance will evoke disturbance in the circulation of the food supply. Severe punishment will bo meted out and the disposition to trifle with the law will be nipped in the bud. "'Embargo was laid on all provisions found within the German Empire up to January 26. With the exception of any i>ossib!e importation the monthly trading in grain and flour has been limited to half of that which was sold from January 1 to 15. 1915. Those sales, however, must move within the limits laid out for the distribution.'' The writer emphasises the high idealis'tfc spirit of these measures, in the fact of which critics of a fundamentally different opinion should be silenced. "Whoever feels himself restricted in personal • liberties will subordinate these sentiments to his patriotic duty. Moreover-, the gambler is the only one who will suffer, having been shorn in the hope of price speculations. Maximum prices are set down which will secure any trader in grain and flour a handsome profit. It will thus be seen that nobody is enjoined to sacrifice anything needlessly to the common welfare. The State has also embarked on economics in the industrial field, chiefly for the saving of raw material. While the feeding of the civil population has been taken care of, there is also the need of the army. Present stocks of copper, nickel, tin, aluminium, antimony, and lead have been seized and the amount computed, though in. this case there is not the fear of a shortage.

How the Germ;]u food supply litis been affected by the war we gather from •a contribution to the Berliner Nenste Nachrichten. by Professor Soli ring, nicmber ol' the Diet. The annual importation of 10.000.OfX) tons of foodstuffs, feed, and fertilising materia] at a viiluc of two and a-half milliards of marks (about £112.000,000) has been entirely cut off. This is as much as ten sea-going yesseis of 3000 tons each, or 100 .railroad trains of thirty ears each could transport daily. In regard to potatoes. Germany is producing more than the I'nited Status —sixteen as largo in area : more than Russia, or any other country. With a normal harvest Germany can produce nine-tenths of itsgrain consumption for bread, and making allowance for a too high estimate, eight-tenths. The average importation of vegetable foodstuffs amounts only to 6.20. marks (6s'3d) per head during" the last six years. The maximum grain prices are not too high. Wheat is higher in London 'than in Berlin, notwithstanding that London is the centre of the great oversea traffic. Eye is also used considerably for bread in Germany; it sells for 4'.)'marks (41s 8d) less per ton tha.ii wheat, so that the people can live cheaper'than in England. Professor Schring goes on to show some of the. disadvantages accruing from the price regulations: "Many farmers and merchants, instead of selling the grain, preferred to use it for feeding the cattle. A wholesale market would have prevented the wholesale feeding, esncciallv of rye and potatoes. The cattle were' fed instead of slaughtered, and to the lasting disadvantage of the man. The motive, however, was not from ill-will. The small farmer has a heart for his .stock, and was not willing to dispose of it unless tempted by high prices. The official announcement that all bread must now contain a certain proportion of rice and potato flour has been more effective. The combination is eminently nutritious, though not quite so valuable a food product as bread made exclusively, from wheat. l?ice replaces wheat in food valiie very well and has a. pleas-

ant taste that does not pall readily, as i:otato bread nf various kinds does. Pice, rye. and barley save, wheat, however,- and potato flour actually lessens the quantity of bread eaten because it is more filing. Bakers will also take an interest in heavier mixing with potato flour in order to be able to keep up the business after the decree to decrease the output to three-fourths. "The municipalities are also enjoined to lay in stock a certain amount of meat. The pigs of the farmers will be used to this end. Three-quarters of all iiies, or 16,000.000 animals, must be killed if the potato supplv in Germany is to last until the next harvest. This 'wholesale, slaughter will, however, take months, because there is a lack of hutchors. In order to avoid a threatening shortage of potatoes it would, therefore. «eeni likely to raise the price of meat." In conclusion, the writer emphasises the tremendous reversals which production and commerce are undergoing,