BRITAIN'S CALL FOR FOOD

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1947, Page 7

BRITAIN'S CALL FOR FOOD

-Press Association

BIG FACTOR IN KEEPING THE EMPIRE TOGETHER

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, Mar. 14. . From the world point of view, there has been gross under-production and very serious .mal-distribution of food in and from New Zcaland, aeeording to Lord Bledisloe, when speaking at a luncheon given in his and Lady Bledisloe 's honour by the Wellington braneli of the Royal Empire Society and representatives of the Founders and St. George Societies, Overseas and Victoria Leagues and English Speaking Union. Lord Bledisloe: "Wliat is going to be the future of the Britisli Empire T Some organs of the overseas press said its breaking up had beguu aud would continue progressively. Don't you believe it, " said Lord Bledisloe in ringing t6nes. ' ' We may not further extend tlie Empire but we have a grave duty in postwar years of consolidating and strengtheuing' the Empire, particularly tliose parts with a preponderance of people of Britisli stock. I have heard, during the time I was repre.sen.ting the Kiug in the Dominion, that there' was in this country an over production of food. There never has been an over production of food except in a regional sense, There has been gross under production of food as far as the world is concerned and very serious maldistribution. Oue result is that, because of inadequatc nutrition or lack of a balanced ration, niore tlian half the world is not able to pull its full weight in the huiuan endeavour. Our great fear is that, througli lack of adequate food or an unbalanced ration, Great Britain may begin to lose physical and montal efficiencv. At a time when the solvency of Great Britain and, indeed, its happiness and prosperity, dei>ends so niucli 011 tlie ourput of our faclories, it is a sad thing that a large proportion of the workers should be unable to do a full and efficient day's work. " . Lord Bledisloe went 011 to say that the ration of bread in Great Britain was likely to be reduced. The ration of meat was reduced and might be further reduced in the near future. Some inembers of botli Houses in London had expressed strong feelings 011 the sentling of food to fecd former enemies but most people would agree it was difficult to justify morally the leaving of our former enemies to starve. Unless they were fed they would not have enough strengtli to earn their own living. "We are not mendicants in the Old Country," continued the speaker. "The working people never had more nionev in their pockets tlian. todav but they can't buy anvthing. They afe underclothed, underfed and, like yourselves, underhoused. We want essential coui modities in the shops and available for those who want to buy tliem. This can only be done when you feel you have surplus food, when refrigcration space is available, -and when ships tuni round more promptly. Then we hope it will be possiblc to enter into contracts for larger supplie's of-'food than are going forward today. " , • • ' ; ; . ?