Grocers' deputation defend bacon prices

 

Digest of stories from the Luton News: Thursday, March 15th, 1917.

Oakley Bros advert 1914

  • Oakley Brothers advert published December 1914

"Shoppers will find that Luton is one of the cheapest towns in the country," said Councillor Albert Oakley, of Messrs Oakley Bros. With Mr H. Inwood and Mr J. J. Wooding, Councillor Oakley came as a deputation from the Grocers' Section of the Tradesmen's Association to the Luton News with a view to clearing up certain points in connection with food prices.

In common with the daily papers, the Saturday Telegraph gave the Food Controller's statement on food prices, and added that the wholesale price which Lord Devonport had fixed for bacon for the next fortnight was 1s 2½d to 1s 4d per pound.

Councillor Oakley said the statement was very misleading. "That price," he said, "is the price of the 'green' bacon on the wharf. To that must be added the carriage, which works out at anything from 10s to 12s per cwt. Then there is the drying and smoking, and that entails considerable shrinkage apart from the cost of labour, and the wholesalers has to put that expense on the top of the wharf price, and a little profit also, before he vends it to the retailer.

"The retailers has to allow for his waste in cutting, for it is not all 'prime cut' by any means. So you see the fallacy of the public thinking that Lord Devonport means that the price to the consumer should be only 1s 2½d to 1s 4d per lb.

"Now compare the prices in Luton with those of the big firms in London. Take the Luton price of 1s 10d for each of he following cuts. At the London firms, middle is 1s 10½d, back 2s 2d, prime streaky 2s 2d. The Luton price for fore-end is 1s, at the London establishment 1s 3½d."

Said Councillor Oakley: "You will greatly oblige us and only do us justice in the eyes of the public by putting these facts before your readers."

  • The new regulations under the Defence of the Realm Act with regard to the sale of alcohol in Luton Borough, Luton Petty Sessional Division and Dunstable come into operation on Monday, March 19th. After Monday, intoxicating liquor may be supplied for consumption in any licensed premises only between 12 noon (Sundays 12.30pm) and 2.30pm and 6pm and 9pm. Any person contravening the regulations is liable to six months hard labour or a fine of £100.

  • There was considerable excitement at the Midland Railway Station, Luton, on Saturday night when it was reported that a passenger had fallen from a train. Fortunately there was no serious result other than passenger Mr W. J. Rankin being stunned but being able to return home after first aid.

  • The schools at Chapel Street, Christ Church, Dunstable Road, Waller Street, Old Bedford Road, Surrey Street and Beech Hill have their allotments for the purpose of growing potatoes. Luton Education Committee congratulated the headmasters for taking steps to increase the food production in this way.

  • A highly successful concert was given in the Norton Road School hall on Saturday evening, the occasion being the initial gathering of the Aeromnia Social and Athletic Club which has recently been promoted with commendable initiative towards the welfare of their employees by the directors of the Omnia Works, Leagrave, of aeroplane manufacturers Hewlett & Blondeau. Mrs Hilda Hewlett attended, but Mr Blondeau was unable to do so due to illness.

  • Yesterday, a cyclist named T. Newton, of 13 Stockingstone Road, had a truly wonderful escape from a fearful death. He was cycling along New Bedford Road when, just as he was about to pass a motor tractor, his machine skidded and he fell in front of the tractor. However, he happily succeeded in throwing himself clear, but his machine was completely smashed.

  • The gallant band of Luton lads who joined the Colours in response to the first call for volunteers is considerably depleted now, and news come to hand this week of the fall of Gunner Horace Clark Sanders, son of Mr and Mrs E. C. Sanders, of 20 Cardigan Street. He joined the Colours in September 1914 and died from wounds from a rifle bullet on February 23rd.

  • Official intimation from the War Office has been received by Mrs Oliver, of 1 Moreton Road, Round Green, that her husband, Pte Herbert Thomas Oliver, of the Royal Fusiliers, has died of wounds received in action on February 17th. His death occurred at a clearing hospital in France two days later.

  • Although official intimation from the War Office has not been received, iy is certain from letters received that Pte Edgar Frederick Ambridge has been killed. Enlisting in the Leicestershire Regiment last March, he went to France in July. He was aged 27, single and his parents reside at 5 Clifton Road, Luton.

  • Doctors are attributing the death at Netley Hospital on March 6th of Pte Patrick Harry Godding to exposure after his thigh was broken on his way to the trenches. Pte Godding was formerly head cashier at the Prudential Assurance Co offices in Upper George Street.

  • Pioneer Sgt Cyril Allen, well known in Luton as a signwriter, is now engaged in supervising the making and writing of memorial crosses for the men of the Bedford Regiment who have fallen in Egypt.