FOOD REFUSED BY BRITAIN

Chronicle (Levin), 9 March 1946, Page 2

FOOD REFUSED BY BRITAIN

AUSTBA1IAN STATEMENT. CANBERRA, March 8. Food oll'ered to Britain by Australia liud been rojected by the British Goverunieut, aaid the MinisLor of Commerce (Mr. Sc-ully), when replyiug to aliogations by the Onposition that the Australian Goverument had not reapunded satisfaetorily to Britain 's appeal lor food. I ii refut-ing 7500 toiis of canned uieat, the British (joverninent had elaiined that 110 provision eould be made for ii in the British rationing svstem. One aiul a half million cases of apples, although ordered by Britain in October, were rejeeted beeause refrigcrated sliips were not available to carrv them. Large quaiitities of table margarine, also dehydrated and canned vegetables and glandular niut-L-ii, had sulfered Ihe saino Tate. The meat, iMr. Scully added, had been oH'ered to Unrra and rejeeted. The apples were being processed so as to be 'made available for export later. ■ This year, Australian exports of food were expected to reach 2,500,000 toiis, iniieh of which would go' to desiinations cloSC" to A'us'tralia at-ih'^r^' fjuest of Britiiin. Despite the drought, .100, 00 tons of mcat aiul 115,000 tons ,f dairj- [lroduec would be shipjied. !n addition, there would be 1, 00*0,000 ases of eggs in ihe sheii.-and cggq ulp 'qui\alent to 500, 000 more eggs. The DejuUy Leader of the Opposition l .M r. Ilarrisoii ) charged thqt the Goverument. was itself governed by the liressure of Communist-eontrolled unions. .Mr lioll il.iberal) said that the Aus- • rnlians lost, their respeet for the law when they saw sections of the coinniiMiity suei-essTully flouting tlie law in - lelin nce of the (lovernment. t^ues! ions about thc food taken to Mritain bv Mr. Beaslev (Australian Resident i\rimster in Lomlon) were : sked in tlie .House of Kepresentatives bv Mr. Anthonv (Countrv Partv). 3\T r . Anl lion v char'ved that -the supplies fak'Mi im-li'ded -lOOlh. of sugar, 1001b.. of «ea, Severn! mises of milk, 109 eases of linned fruit, 1001b. of cheese and four •ases nf lurkcvs. ife was informed ' hnt Ihe Rathuiing Connnission was ■ iviM-rule'l and the neeessarv tea and u'.'-ir cuinons wero issued. "Mr. Beaslev lias been looking after 'ii(> peenle of Aus'ralia and also lonkLi'. after Mr Peasley handsomely, " Mr \lll l:oli\* /--""■'"derl.