Troops To Assist Maintain Food Supplies

Chronicle (Levin), 11 January 1947, Page 5

Troops To Assist Maintain Food Supplies

Press Assn.-

BRITISH CARR1ERS' STRIKE

By Telegraph.

•Copyrighi

Received Saturday, 10 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 10. The lorry drivers have achieved what the Luftwaffe and German Army and Navy failed to do — prevent London ration hook holders from receiving their ful allocation of meat — says Reuter's. Sorae shops have received thirty per cent of their meat ration, but these supplies have now been exhausted. The Government has announced that the Navy, Army and Air. Force will be given detailed orders to provide whatever assistance is required to maintain the people's food supplies and other essential strvices. The announcement says the decision was taken to prevent unnecessarv inconvenience and hardship arising from the' partial stoppage of work in road haulage. Smithfield market workers held a meeting immediately the Government's decision was known. They unanimouslv decided to walk out as soon as the troops arrived, and asked all workers' organisations whose industries are affected by the use of troops to do likewise. The Minister of Food, Mr. John Strachey. announced that military labour will operate on January 13. Mr. Strachey said: "A continuance of the strike into next week would prevent Londoners receiving many of their essential food supplies. In the circumstances it is ihe Government's duty to take cmergencv measures for the distribntion of foodstuffs. This will be cione. but I emphasise that in periurming this duty the Food Ministry is not intervening in this industrial -dispute, or implying any opinion on the men's claims."