FOOD PARCELS FOR BRITAIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 104, 15 February 1950, Page 5

FOOD PARCELS FOR BRITAIN

AUSTRALIAN EFFORT BEING JEOPARDISED LONDON, Feb. 14. Australia’s Food for Britain Fund is being jeopardised by statements of party leaders in the British election campaign, reports the Sydney correspondent of the “News Chronicle.” The secretary of the Australian fund’ (Mr Harry Simpson) said that during the last few weeks orders for food parcels placed by Australia had dropped below the mimimum of 5000 a day required to justify the continued operation of the Food for- Britain organisation. Mr Simpson attributed this drop, first, to news of the removal of rationing in Berlin; second, to Mr John Strachey’s claim that the British had never been so. well fed as at present, and, third, to Conservative hints that they might relieve petrol rationing if they are returned. This has been taken as an indication that Britain is overcoming her import problems. Australian Avorkers, says Mr Simpson, could not conceive that the British Government would put petrol before food. Unless Mr Strachey or Mr Attlee, preferrably with the support of Mr Churcjiill and the Liberal leader, Mr Clement Davies, declare unequivocally that Britain still needs food parcels, the Australian fund may be forced to close doAvn, adds the correspondent.