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Wi-IIT13Y IREI' PRESS, 'I IURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1972, PAGE, 5 says Broadbent Food Chain$ maj9lo..ç.m-é Skyrocketi«ng Food Cost Must Stop The skyrocketing cost of food should be a ma- jor issue ini the fortihconing federal election," pre- diets Oshawa-Whitby MP Ed Broadbent. In ail interview with the Whitby Free Press on Monday, Mr. Broadbent said the contents of a recent report on the food industry by STATISTICS CAN- ADA were alarmning. "The average famiily as it stands now - cannot afford to buy a home, is overtaxed and now ac- cording to the findings of the report, is fiaced with an ail-timie level higli in the cost of food."' "A nd the Trudeau Governmien t should assumne its share of the responsibility in the liigh cost food issue," lie elîargcd, adding that the curretît governl- nment is negligent hiere as it is ini 50 maîîy otiier areas, "by its simple faiture to inivestigate."" Mir. Broadbeîut, wlio based lus accotit ni data j receextly divulged by Statisties Canada, said report reveLaitionis wltîeh eoncertied inii mosi were that while 1'ood costs as oi' JuIy titis vear were up 4.5%, te [rend indicates by thls initer thiey sliotild I)e tp 5%Ï. Wage increases allotted Canianii workers during the past iniots could be eomtple[ely absodîed byv food ('0515 wi tlout et cc onsidering the prevalen t houising c(>st, lie sai(I. A revicw of' Uie total pictLtre points out tduat the farinier is not responsible for spiralling costs. lie explained. "For instance. just last mionth statistics slîowed tlîat if' a cotîsuiner jîaid 21 cenîts f'or a 16- mice loaf' of' brcad, the tfa«rmcir's sîîare was _' cents. For a poLInd of pork wliclî sold for 65 cenits, the fariner rcceivcd 22 cents. Froiîî a dozeti of' eggs selliîîg at 47 cents, the faner rcalized a quarter, and l'or a titi of' apple juice costing 40 cents lic re- ceived oiîly 7 cents."* Out of cvery foodl dollar spcnt ini 1949 tlîc far- nicr reccived 57 cents, but sitîce then his share lias steadily decliiîed, lie conitinued. Just twenty years later ini 1960, lus slîare of the food dollar dropped to 45 cents, and it is estimiated in 1 97 1 lie will ne- ceive only 40 cenîts out of cvery dollar. I t is also of' genieral intcrest to point out tlîat we in this anea sliould hiave a vcny vcsted ecoîioniy intcrest ini tle farmcer as lie plays a nîost vital role ini our econoiny picture. For instanîce, farmcers buy tlîirty pcr cent of ail fuel requirneets ini Canada, 40'/ of ili tires produced ini Canada and 40'/( of all iron and steel products. "If'thte farner is niot getting luis sliarc of' the foocd incontie, categorically tlien, wlîo is"" LYSOL AIR FRESHENER and DISINFECTANT 14 OZ. SUGG.10 LI ST 07 1.791a jARRID Iirr""EXTRA DRY" ANTri-PERtSPIRANTr 9 oz. 1? SUGG. 2 LIST M 2.09 CREME RINSE 7 Vi OZ. SUGG. 4 NOXZMA SKIN CREAM 6 OZ. SPECIAL I~IINOZEMAJLmited Time Off.i' 1.35 [scotch BRAND ape TH-SCOUPON 15 WORTH Sctc ii vz- x 1010" Present this coupon with your next ON DISPENSER roll of colour film for printing and developing. Save $1.00 on the regu- lar photo-finishing service. SUGG. Goodat any I.D.A. DRUG STORE. Offer Expires Sept. 30, 1972,- 49c 29i'~ COUfflc-AWN lD.A.PIAMCY S>OT'S ID.A. PHARMACY 117 ImhSt N 684R4I'"' 65 IIIdwit St. 655Ms.31SoooLNm tiaI food staples, shilted in diet, replacing the more ex pensive, high-protein food for the cheaper, starchier type, he said. i Now you may borrow with confidence ...e \t~ .I:iliiie of 1107 fIenry Streeti k onc ' 0ftIlousUflîI% ho wîII pas even for more l'or groccries by winter. "It is pretty clear [lut major food chains miust lie seet as a major source l'or flie general ineome in [lhe cost of' cross- the-board food prices." Fluctuating prices cati sonîctinies bc attributéd to wvcatlien, paticularly ini fruits and vegctables. Un- cxpected factors, sucli as the nmajor waslî out of the entire Ottawa Valley tlîis ycar cannot bc blarned on thie food cliains. lie cxplained, but eveti allowing for thiis it can bc said tlia,,t tiue six major food chains in - Canada control nmore tlîan 75% of thîe groccry busi- niess in urban arcas. Tlhis in effeet gives the food chiaitis wlîat cconomnists cati scîîî i-noîiopolistic pow- crs ini cstablislîing food prices. A look at this profit picture indicates tlîat inost recent figures f'or thîe four iiontli period ending May 20 tlîis year, shiows l.G.A. profits were uip 18% over a simuilar period Iast year. Profits tabulatcd for Loblaws over a 40 week period cndiîîg January 8 tlîis ycar clinîbed to 11.3 mîillionî froru 4.7 inillîon for tdie saine period last ycar. representing an approxiiniate 300% profit, and Steinbergs for a 36 wcek period ending Apnil 8 tlîis year sliowcd a profit of I10.2 mîillion over a simiilar pcriod ast ycar wîîeîî the profit figure represented only 4.3/(,. By companison in 1971 Caniadianii Industry as a wlîole showccl a profit of 5.9% rcturn 0on thîe ln- vestnient dollar. T'le average return of' Loblaws, Steinbergs, Domiinioni Stores and Wcstoîî conibiincd was 8.2/%. "Wlîat thiis inians is tliu- profit îîaking iii thîe cliain stores vastly cxcceds p -)fit îiakinîîi othier sectors of tie cconiotnîy. said Mr. Broadbcnt, "and sitice food is an essential coîiiniê. iity for wlîich poor land ricli nan pay cxactly tlîc s nie price, the gov- erniiienit niust take action îîow o break off fore- casted furtlier increases in foo i prices for this winiter." As alleviating mecasures lie suggests the goveruu- nient sliould establislî first of aIl, a commission to iiîvestigate priciîîg ln the food industry iii order to get a more accurate overaîl picture. The governuient sliould adôpt a preliniinary report as to wlîat it sliould do inînediately to effect a turn back ini pnices - or at least implenient a freeze ini such es- sential foods as inîat, butter, milk anîd cggs. The Federal Govertîmeuît should also estabtishi a Prices Review Board whichi would have the riglit to veto price increases in essential conîmodities like food whien such iîcreases are not econonî ically justi- fied. their should also be a law passed that requires prieing in labels to îindicate on fancy packaging for instance, per unit cost, indicating an itenm as so iaiy cef.n. npr iiounid, and if Ieg-islation ini pricing is not 'n Whitby the oldest anid largest Company of its kind is here HOUSEHOLD FINANCE Borrow with confidence . look for the HFC sign of prompt, courteous, trustworthy money service BORROW UP TO $1O,OOO REAL ESTATE LOANS ARE AVAILABLE (Special Rates) Ve tlîiiîk yOLI xvill like doing busiîiess witlî tle newest office of H FC- H ouseliold Fi iatîce. Yoti arrange your loan iii briglît, ceerfuil surroundinîgs. Tlîe I-I FC mniager will give youi the îîîost ielpfuLl service possible. 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HOUSEHOLD FINANCE HIOU SEHOLD REALTY COR PO RATION LIMITED Wliitby Whitby Mail Shopping Centre (on the mail, near Woolco> Telephone 723-8101 Hours: Mon. ta Thurs., 9.30 a.m. fa 5.30 p.m.-Fri., 9.30 arn. ta 6.30 p.r.-Sat. closed OSHAWA Suite 208, Oshawa Shopping Centre 725-1138 (Northwest corner over Fairweather's) 5 Simcoe Street-Telephone 725-6526 (Just Soutih of King) AJAX 66 Harwood Ave. South-Telephone 942-6320 (Aiax Shopping Centre)