MINISTER ANNOUNCES CUTS TO MEET BRITAIN'S EMERGENCY

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1947, Page 5

MINISTER ANNOUNCES CUTS TO MEET BRITAIN'S EMERGENCY

( N.Z.B.A

-Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Saturday, 10 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 8. The Minister of Food, Mr. John Strachey, announced at a Press conference today a reduction from 32 to 28 in the consumers' allow&nces on points for food phrchases. Mr Strachey said he could make no announcement on the subject of f$odstuffs for hotels and catering establishments until the Ministry of Food had consulted the trade on August 11. There would be a reduction in the points allowances to cafes and restaurants corresponding to the cuts m consumers' points.

Mr-. Strachey added that the Government had a "policy against the worst coming to the worst, and against none of the Government's plans being realised" — a full-scale differential rationing plans. The Government would iiave to work out the scheme, but that did not mean the Government would have to apply it. The cutting out of the entire rationed food supplies of commercial catering establishments would save only between three and four per cent. of Britain's rationed goods consumption, said Mr. Strachey, but the restrictions were worthwhile to keep domestic consumers and caterers in line. "I don't think you need expect any sudden or dramatic disappearance from the larder. We will not allow stocks to run out or disappear. There will be reductions in distribution." Mr. Strachey said he thought the present world famine of food would be "of quite short duration, and the people of Britain will, as a long-term economic proposition, be able to exchange their characieristic exports for perfectly adequate quaniities of food."