anaheim-gazette 1932-08-18

Food Administrator Tells Plans to Distribute Surplus Products Among Unemployed and Needy Within State Stresses Economic Necessity of Not Disturbing Routine of Business; Leaves Employment of Unemployed Up to Districts for Gathering and Distributing Foods By DUDLEY MOULTON State Food Administrator We have before us a set of conditions which are unprecedented in the history of relief work. On the one hand unemployment and want with thousands of people who are in actual need of sustenance, a condition which touches the depth of our human sympathy and challenges our ingenuity to cope with: on the other hand great surpluses of food stuffs in the possession of growers, packers and other trade units, with further surpluses coming into production. These products to are all around us at our very door. The cure seems obvious, to get these products to those who are in need and yet when we examine into the economic phases of this problem, the solution is not so simple. Agriculture must have its profit-making possibilities restored or there can be no return to prosperous conditions for other industries. Practically all of our commercial agricultural crops are at present, when saleable, being marketed at a price below the cost of production and are so obtainable from merchants in the open market. The goods thus available are, for the most part, being sold at a loss. New goods actually cannot be packed or manufactured at a cost price as low as the figure at which the goods already available can be bought. This is particularly true of canned goods. Service to Unemployed In many instances the grower is not securing the cost of production, and the cost of distribution remains out of proportion to the prevailing price levels received by the producer. Economic pressure is driving down the sales price of commodities to a point where many of these unnecessary profits are being squeezed out, as well as the profits of growers. It is our desire to be of service to the unemployed and the needed but we their care is our rimmediate problem. Sets Up Council In order to get at an orderly analysis of the whole matter and place in effect a safe plan of operating, I have set up an organization which in a very short time will, we believe, secure a coordination between surplus and need with special reference to the relief situation. With the basic premise that no unit in business or industry has a right to make money from the need and distress of those who are in want, I expect all factors to give complete cooperation and aid in the plan which we have adopted in the present emergency. It will be well also to maintain, as far as possible, the orderly flow of business thru its normal channels — for we must bear in mind that with business harried as it now is, any major disturbance in normal processes will tend to greater uncertainty and would thereby create further unemployment. The food administration council is composed of men high in the service of producing and marketing organizations. Included in this Council are various commodity committees, small groups of growers, processors and distributors, men who know their commodity, who can obtain information on unsold goods, where they may be located, the grades Service to Unemployed In many instances the grower is not securing the cost of production, and the cost of distribution remains out of proportion to the prevailing price levels received by the producer. Economic pressure is driving down the sales price of commodities to a point where many of these unnecessary profits are being squeezed out, as well as the profits of growers. It is our desire to be of service to the unemployed and the needed but we must not further crucify the farmer by asking him to sell his products at a loss or to give them away to charity. He should receive the cost of production or at least salvage costs. A large proportion of California's agricultural products in normal times are marketed outside of her state boundaries, for example, rice, barley, fresh, dried and canned fruits and many vegetables. Unsold goods must accumulate when these outside markets are curtailed. The stoppage of trade has brought with it the inevitable unemployment and ddistress. The Unemployed In Work Our objective is to conserve at least a portion of these unharvested and unsold goods and place them with the needy who have lost their power of purchasing. Various plans have been suggested, among them, the use of the unemployed in harvesting and preserving food commodities and the issuing of labor cards or credits to be used for food supplies. Such local activities cannot be participated in directly by the state food administration, but we do wish to give all possible encouragement to such efforts, which tend to place responsibility at the point of need and also to enable each locality to do its full share towards solving its own problems. There must naturally be a very great degree of decentralization of the actual work of relief, so we have urged local units to go as far as possible in securing and distributing supplies in their own communities. Well organized groups of unemployed have accomplished much without money, in harvesting crops on a share basis, some of these products are then offered for exchange for other commodities which they need. Men thus retain their self respect by working for what they get. Many of our city dwellers, however, cannot do this and thus become objects of charity and business harried as it now is, any major disturbance in normal processes will tend to greater uncertainty and would thereby create further unemployment. The food administration council is composed of men high in the service of producing and marketing organizations. Included in this Council are various commodity committees, small groups of growers, processors and distributors, men who know their commodity, who can obtain information on unsold goods, where they may be located, the grades or quality an dat what price may be obtained. In addition to this I have selected a small group of men to act as an advisory board, men of large experience and with wide knowledge in exactly this kind of work. Needs Cooperation There is being set up in each county, an advisory council, consisting of one member of the board of supervisors, the agricultural commissioner and a few who are especially interested in welfare work. These units working to gather with our central state headquarters, will locate sources of supplies, volume and availability. This information will be given to the state welfare commission an dthe various welfare agencies throughout the state, and there after a direct contact will be made between the source of supply and the need. The relief agencies are rendering a splendid service, probably the most important piece of work to which men and women can give their attention an dit is our desire to aid them in every possible way. The state food administration can succeed only thru the devoted cooperation of the citizens of every community and particularly thru the services of representatives of the various commodities needed in the relief work. In this spirit of cooperation we ask you help and with it, we have every right to anticipate that such efforts as are made by this organization, will be of vital aid in meeting the emergency created by depressed economic conditions. May I mention in conclusion that recent reports made to me by both commercial and cooperative marketing agencies, as well as the information available to all of us from the market and financial pages, indicate a more hopeful situation, pointing to a gradual but constant improvement in our commodity markets. Nevertheless, we have RE-ELECT James L. Allen to the Office of Superior Judge At Present Presiding Judge Superior Court of Orange County 31 years in the practice of law One term in the Kansas State Senate Two years attorney for the Secretary of the Interior Thousands Witness Olympic Athletic Struggles Champion athletes of leading nations of the world are now engaged in herculean struggles of their careers in the 10th Olympic games at Los Angeles... Top; Parade of All Natons which marked the opening of the games, July 30. Lower left, Lieut. George C. Calnan, U. S. Olympic team, who took the solemn Olympic oath for all nations participating as the hundreds of athletes stood with raised hands, at the opening ceremonies. Lower right, Vice-Pres. Charles Curtis, greets the crowd. a serious situation to meet this winter and it would be a social and economic crime to overlook the possibility of using our surplus food supplies to meet the emergency presented by the existence of a multitude of unemployed and needy people in our own and other states. REPAIRING CANYON ROUTES The first 17 miles of the highway from Williams to the south rim of the Grand canyon, Arizona, are being graded an doiled. The work is being handled in such a way as to eliminate delay or inconvenience to traffic. New Contractor for Every 109 Minutes Business in the construction industry in California is on the upgrade, and an average of one contractor sprang into business every two hours during the past four months. And it required one contractor to perform the building needs of each 226 persons in California, according to a report filed with Governor James Rolph, Jr., by Carlos W. Huntington, state registrar of contractors. Col. Huntington disclosed that 25,048 contractors are now operating in California, an increase of 1,625 over March 1, or an increase of one every 109 minutes. Orange county contractors increased from 480 to 494, a growth of 14 in three months. Selling Walnuts By Advertising Walnut growers of California are entering the new walnut season with all the 1931 crop marketed and disposed of, presenting a brighter aspect for the sale of the 1932 crop, which is soon to be harvested. Fred W. Reed, of the California Fruit Exchange, San Francisco, is to speak on the subject of "What the Radio Has Accomplished in Selling California Products" at the inter-county walnut growers' association packing house, Saticoy, Ventura county. The meeting will start at 10 a.m. It is being held under the auspices of the inter-county walnut growers' department of the farm bureau and the agricultural extension service. When You Go---- VACATION Order Your Gazette S Keep track of important local out having to read hours each The Gazette gives you com news authentically and in keeps you abreast with Or political situations, and when you'll not be "lost" for a few news authentically and intimately keeps you abreast with Orwell's political situations, and when you'll not be "lost" for a few Besides---you'll enjoy reading contributions of such writers Barton, Dr. John J. Gaines, Mr Jack Adams, Felix Riesenberg, Parker Stockbridge. Their on national and home problem stories are intelligent, and interesting. Crosby for Congress Candidate for Republican Nomination PRIMARIES. AUGUST 30, 1932 Watch for my next BROADSIDE To Be Delivered to Your Door August 23 YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS IT! It Gives My Stand on Unemployment and Economic Stability and why I am in favor of Organized Labor Payment of Foreign Debts and Repeal of the 18th Amendment Also the Discussion of Other Topics of Paramount importance to the public today. TIONING Mazette Sent To You! important local news with hours each day. you condensed local and interestingly---- with Orange county and when you return, for a few days. and interestingly---- with Orange county and when you return, for a few days. by reading the regular uch writers as Bruce Gaines, Mary Marshall, Riesenberg and Frank Their contributions ne problems, and ficelli gent, enlightening