Eat Potatoes And Save Wheat: Only Answer To Serious World Shortage

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 35, 6 April 1948, Page 8

Eat Potatoes And Save Wheat: Only Answer To Serious World Shortage

Wheat is the world’s No. 1 problem. Britain, which grows little wheat, has to import large quantities. There is insufficient wheat grown in the world today, with the result that Britain’s bread is rationed. Potatoes, the universal stand-by for wheat, are also rationed in Britain. There are rumours of a further cut from three pounds to two pounds a week, because of diminishing potato stocks. New Zealand has to import wheat from Australia, and every bushel imported means less wheat for Britain. That is why the Aid for Britain National Council has launched its “grow more wheat” campaign. But New Zealanders can help in other ways. The most obvious and most beneficial is by saving bread. In answer to the Aid for Britain appeal many more potatoes were grown this year. The yield was good and there is a plentiful supply. Bread and potatoes form our staple diet; they are-the energy-giv-ing foods. The Department of Health states that there is little difference between them in food qualities; they are interchangeable. By eating more potatoes in place of broad a definite saving of wheat is made. And the shortage of wheat is one of the problems. To break the monotony of boiled, -fried or baked potatoes, they can be cooked, in numerous other ways.