With the war just into its third year and essentials in ever greater shortage, the Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph took a look at what it headlined a "Dear food scandal" in its August 26th, 1916, edition and interviewed leading tradesmen about the increasing cost of meat and bread in particular.

Luton has been very fortunate, far more so than the average town, during the present war, said the Telegraph report. Increased cost of living is always coincident with war, and the general increase in the cost of food in England, variously placed at 45 per cent to 70 per cent, has now become so acute that it has been a matter of daily comment in the House of Commons.

Luton has been lucky in that general income has considerably advanced with the increased expenditure, and in a very large number of cases the pockets of the working class are more capable of meeting the increased expenditure than of meeting the cost formerly, for wages have risen in greater proportion. Nevertheless, those engaged in the staple trade of the town [hat trade] and other trades which have not benefited are feeling the pinch, and many shops have been closed owing to the inability of customers to meet the high prices of food, particularly provisions.

With a view to ascertaining the views of leading tradesmen, our representative had several interviews yesterday.

Council Albert Oakley, of Messrs Oakley Bros, the well-known firm of wholesale and retail provision merchants, was busily engaged in preparing for the dispatch of parcels of food to prisoners of war when our representative tackled him on the subject of prices.

He said the high prices were largely due to the scarcity, and he did not believe there was the "cornering" of stock reported in certain quarters. Dealing with bacon, a commodity for which the firm is justly famed, he said: "Bacon is very scarce indeed. We can't get what we want, and we cannot buy a bale outside of our weekly order, and we only get about half the regular order. Wholesale firms have rung me up on the telephone this morning and asked me if we could let them have bacon, but I had to refuse because we have not nearly enough for our own customers.

And what about the complaints that stock is held up in port? "The stuff that is being held up is cheap American bacon which, in the ordinary way, would find a market in Germany to be worked up with horseflesh for sausages. There's no market for it here, and it is held up until it cannot be held longer, and then it is melted down for tallow."

And who gets the benefit of the high prices? "Not the shopkeeper, most assuredly not, or you would not have shops closing down. Two provision shops have been closed in Luton this week, and they would not close if they were making extra profit, would they? They are obliged to close down because they cannot get the stuff, and we shall all have to shut down soon if things do not alter.

"Bacon, butter and lard have all jumped up this morning because the market prices are higher, and it is so every week. Fresh butter jumped 2d per lb this morning without any warning whatever. We ordered and the first intimation of the increase is on the invoice. Moreover, we have no chance of complaining because we don't get enough to meet the demand."

And who gets the benefit? "Well, the producer is getting extra for his produce, but he is having to pay more for his foodstuffs, so he is not much better off. With regard to sugar, the Government have got control of sugar and few shopkeepers have any sugar to sell. The high price is due to the scarcity, and people do not try to meet it as they should, by using less. If people would do this it would alleviate the trouble to some extent."

"Don't blame the butchers," remarked Mr William Panter, of Park Street. "Indeed I don't know who you should blame for the present high prices for meat. You can only put it down as being the natural result of the existing competition. No, there is no corner in meat to account for it. It is simply a matter of foodstuffs generally.

"Pigs today are worth from 7s to 8s per stone, and that means 10½d or 11d a pound. I have pigs in this shop that cost me 11½d a lb, so you can tell we have to cut it up to the best advantage to make anything like a profit. Pigs have to be bought in public auction mainly, and if there is a small market there is no little competition among butchers.

"I cannot say the high prices are the fault of anyone in particular. It is the result of the competitive system. Besides, the feeding stuffs are so dear. Corn is now selling at 65s per quarter, and when it was only 30s a quarter we had a hard job to buy feeding stuffs.

"Then there is the restriction on foreign meat. The Government commandeered nearly all the cold meat, and the scarcity of foreign supplies has raised the prices of English meat. People naturally prefer English meat, and foreign meat is practically as dear.

"I cannot see any prospect of an early reduction in prices. We are paying for sheep 9s a stone, for lamb 10s, for beef 8s to 8s 4d, and for pigs, as I have said already, from 7s to 8s a stone. And then labour is getting so scarce and costly.

"I think this question of the high price of meat has been looked at in the wrong light by the customer. It is not the butchers' fault. They have high prices to pay for their goods and heavy expenses to meet."

The bakers were reticent, but from conversation with one or two it is clear they are almost as badly hit as any trade.

Said one gentleman: "Corn is selling at 80s instead of 40s. The miller has to pay the farmer, we have to pay the miller, who is to pay us? We must live."

Another baker said: "Bread in Luton is 8½d a quartern loaf, which is ½d below the London price and of many districts in the locality. We are working under great difficulties. Our men have been taken for military service, and we are working harder than we ever did. Few people realise exactly how heavy our work is, and the very poor return we get for it.

"The fault of the high price of bread lies with those who hold up the wheat supply. It is a matter which Parliament ought to deal with at once."

[Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: August 26th, 1916]