WW1 and life in Jersey – 10 Prices
Life in Jersey
during the Great War:
Prices
Supplies of coal were brought under the central control of the Island Defence Committee
This is one of a series of articles on various aspects of life in Jersey during the 1914-1918 war which is based on newspaper reports and archived documents. We acknowledge the valuable resource of a weekly series of articles by historian Ian Ronayne which was published on the Jersey Heritage website from 2014 to 2018 to mark the centenary of the conflict
There were inevitably shortages of some items from time to time throughout the war years, but there was surprisingly limited impact on essential supplies, although prices certainly rose at a rate not previously seen.
Shortage of shipping
The biggest problem was the shortage of shipping to bring food, fuel and other essential imports from the UK. Not only were vessels which might normally have operated the island routes diverted to military use, but there was the constant threat (real or imagined) of submarine attacks on merchant ships in the English Channel.
The was was only a few months old when the rising cost of a loaf of bread became a matter for general concern. The States and the Lieut-Governor were anxious to limit price rises by ensuring that there were adequate stocks of flour in the island.
The population had been swelled by a large number of Regular Army soldiers training in the island but it was becoming increasingly difficult to arrange shipping for essential imports. General Alexander Rochfort was required to send an urgent telegram to the Home Office in February 1915 asking the British Government to ensure that the shipping necessary to import 800 tons of flower was made available without further delay.
The problem was not helped by reports of a failed torpedo attack on the ss Lydiawhile en route from Jersey to England.
The situation again became serious at the end of 1917 and the Lieut-Governor intervened to put pressure on the UK Government by letter and telegram to ensure that sufficient supplies reached the island, despite rail network congestion and a shortage of shipping.
Margarine
The increasing price of butter in 1916 led to a demand for the sale of margarine, previously banned by law in Jersey, to be allowed.
St Helier Constable John Pinel brought the matter to the States, saying that poorer people could no longer afford butter. There was considerable opposition to his proposal; from farmers who claimed that the price of butter could collapse, ruining the dairy industry, and from others who claimed that margarine was unwholesome and made from dubious ingredients.
He dismissed a suggestion that only uncoloured margarine should be permitted, to ensure that buyers were clearly aware that it was not butter. Would States Members be happy to spread something insipid-looking and white on their bread, he asked.
Petrol stockpiling
The use and stockpiling of petrol came under scrutiny in March 1916. As part of the general paranoia over the supposed threats facing the island during the war, it was feared that enemy agents may be stockpiling supplies for use by German submarines.
Prosecutions were brought against people and businesses for holding higher than permissible stocks, while at the same time moves were made to ensure that certain groups, including GPs, had sufficient fuel to carry out essential work.
Despite rationing, stocks of petrol sank to worryingly low levels in November 1917, before a ship arrived with 100 barrels, which were shared out among all petrol retailers. Those allowed to buy the fuel faced prices in the region of 30 shillings a gallon.
Coal
The price of coal rose steadily and it became common practice to follow carts transporting coal from the harbour and pick up any lumps falling off. Despite his move being described as 'heartless' by some commentators, the Constable of St Helier ordered the police to arrest anyone picking up fallen coal.
As winter approached in 1917 there were fears that the island would not have enough coal for its needs at an affordable price, so the Coal Controller, Deputy Francis Bois, while assuring islanders that their needs would be met, required merchants to supply him with records of their stocks.
Butter exports
There was a public spat in 1917 between the Evening Post and the Defence Committee over the export of butter to Guernsey, where higher prices could be obtained. The newspaper accused the committee of issuing the necessary licences, a claim which was denied in the States with accusations that the newspaper was trying to stir up public discontent.
