BREAD RATIONING

Chronicle (Levin), 18 July 1946, Page 5

BREAD RATIONING

Press Assn.

(Special Correspoiicenio

Labour's Thorniest Problem BIG 0UTCRY FOR REPEAL

By Telegraph

Copyright

Received vv ednesciay, i p.ni. LUNDON, .July 17. Of the many difficuities that faced Britai.n's Labour Govei'ninent during Us chequered year of ohice, it is doubtuii wliether there has been a more Siorny one tirau dociding whether bread l-ationing should be inti'oduced. Is it really necossary? That is the cry that is going up not only froin hafassed nousewives but also from bakers. It Would be too much to expect that the question would be neglected as a political point and one on wliich the Opposition would not sei/.e in an endeavour to tnake capital against the Government and the Conservatives eertainly are laking full advantage of it. L-'i'om the Government r's point of view, it is adiuitted tliat Mr. Stracheyj Food Minister, made sometliing of a mistake in allowing ten days to elapso between the bare annonncement of bread rationing and the disclosure oi' ■ he ligures whicli jjroved its necessity. riiough it was gcnerally admitied by | ihe Connnons and wliat is described as 'Ihe nioro honest'' of the Conservativo •newsjiapcrs that JM r. (Straghey liad proved liis case, it is also a fact that : li ,s secoud speech had liltle efl'ect upon .Ihe public. Now, with the annourice ii.ent of the coiiipbcated rationing order l lid Mr. tStracliev's adniission that the increase of one ounce dnily for children ivill reduce the estimated saving of the •alion scheino froin 10 to 7 ]ier cent., .he (piestion is being asked whether all ■lic troiible and expense involved in ,nt roducing rationing is worthwhile. I'liis is pxpected to be oue of the main i'nies adopled by the Opposition when lie "prayer" to Ihe annual bread rationing order is debaled in the Comi.ons. The debate is pxppcted to be ividy and even bittor. Ibinged against the Government 's ob,'iously honest assertion that it would lol introduce snch an uii]io])ular meaiiirc affectiiig chiefly the puorer liiem.icrs of the coiiuiiuuity unless it was i'elt absobit ely oldiged, is the largc. bndy of jiublic opinion whicli frankly 'had" lal'oning of anv kind. Generilly speaking il is not that there is sucli a shortagp of goods that is worrvng families, lud that lliere is so niuch irouble and incon venience getting •ations. As oue liousewife told JMrs. -hrachey when she was conducting a irivatc empiiry among qneues for lier' ' itisband, women were so "fed np " .vilh rationing tliat they would sign ilmosl any |>Ptition against it. Tlierp is also the attitude of the bak*rs. In various ]iarts of the country, •loi.ably Bristol, tliev - declared they .vould refuse to operate bread rationing. Not only is the order itsolf comilicafed and involved, but the aetual lusiness of collecting coupons is imnense. One baker, for instanpp, who ms M00 customers, estimates 115,200 •'oupons — "pieces of co^fetti', ho calis iheni — will have to be cut, soi'ted, counted, and returned to the Ministry if Food in the first rationing period.

The only supjiort for the Govorninent 1 s a passive npgative cou}iled with an tir of resignat ion, that if hroad rationbig- i« necossary, il nnist he accepted. Thus the Labour Party is in the unonmable position of having to decide vhctlipr to pnforcp wliat nmst obviously be a Gioroughlv unpo]uilar mcasure. Tf '■( adheres lo its derision, as niost ]ii'oT)v bl v il will, an undoubted hardship will be caused poorer people among wlioni it numbers its largost bod\- of supporters. At the same time it will havo chaygT-s of inconipetonee lovolled •i t it bv the political Opposition for aot having avoidod the necessity of ra I ioning. Tf it does not introduce the order and Ihe erisis reeurs later in the vear, tlien it will have to withstand tne backwash of the wliole present eonfroversy 'i'lie present rliche applied to oi-oldenis of all kinds nowadays, is "a I'eadache." This wliole question of bread rationing nnist be giving the new AT i nisl er of Food, l\rr. iSfraehey, acute. nenrab'ia.