BRITAIN'S FOOD

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24904, 18 June 1946, Page 5

BRITAIN'S FOOD

MINISTER CONFIDENT ABOUT FUTURE “ SHOULD NOT BE ASKED TO DO faORE” LONDON, June 16. “Britain as a nation is only eating in total quantity about 7 per cent, less food than before the war. Our food is now far more fairly and more evenly distributed,” said the Minister of Food (Mr John Strachey), broadcasting on the eve of his departure for Canada and the United States on a food mission. He added: “By the means that we shall take to overcome the present troubles, we shall ensure for the future a far better, more ample, and secure food supply for the mass of the population.” Mr Strachey denied that the cause of Britain’s food shortage was giving away too much to the people of the world who were said to be starving, particularly the Germans. “The real cause is the inevitable aftermath of the Second World War in our time.” he said. “Nevertheless I am not ashamed to say that we, from our meagre supplies last winter and spring, sent barley, potatoes, and other foods through the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration to the starving people of the world, including the British zone of Germany. “Is it not something to be proud of that, in spite of our own position, we sent food to men and women and, above all, children, who otherwise would slowly but certainly have starved to death before the harvest is reaped? Could we in Britain hope

to recover and prosper while that was going on, all round us? I and my colleagues will never apologise for what we have done in that respect. We know we have the support of all right-thinking men.” “Strict Limit Reached”

Mr Strachey said that Britain had reached the strict limit of what she could do. Britain had reached the point where it was necessary to make preparations for bread rationing. “Can Britain give greater proof of her international good faith than by preparing to ration her own bread?” he said. “More we cannot do. More we should not be asked to do.” Mr Strachey pointed out that Britain was not the only country making sacrifices. Australia, Canada, and the United States were making tremendous efforts. There were idle flour mills and bread queues in American cities because of the amount of wheat which America was striving to send overseas.

He said he hoped to sign an agreement with the Canadian Government under which he could buy the main supplies of wheat for the coming period. “The Canadian farmers stuck by us during the war and supplied us with almost all our wheat, and they have not tried to wring the last shilling from us,” he said. He admitted that he could not promise any good news about the foodsituation, especially fats, until the world situation changed for the better. “I must warn that,there is going to be a cut in soap, I cannot promise any good news about the fat situation,” said the Minister. The British soap ration is at present 9oz of toilet soap monthly or 12oz of hard soap. The ration is increased in alternate months to 12oz of toilet or 16oz of hard soap.