THE FOOD CRISIS IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3080, 10 May 1917, Page 5

THE FOOD CRISIS IN BRITAIN

SPEECH BY THE FOOD, CONTROLLER UNPATRIOTIC SPECULATORS EXPOSED WITH CARE WE WILL . MANAGE (Rec. May 9, 7 p.m.) London, May 8. ' Speaking in the House of "Lords, . Lord Devonporfc (the Food' Controller) stated.thafc exploitation by uupatriotio speculators had caused a riEe in the food prices, but it would soon be difficult to do so. As an instance, he told how a cargo of beans which was not likely to arrive for some weeks had been sold and resold repeatedly in Mincinß Lane until it approached £90. Ho told the speculators that this was intolerable, and then tho cargo at tho original contract price. Lord Devonport defended his Department , from charges of confusion . and weakness. He had always, ho said, safeguarded the interests of the poor;. If the consumption >of breadstuffs were reduced, as the Govorurnetit~7ia3 urged, and the sinkings of vessels by submarines did not exceed reasonable limits, there was a likelihood that we would rencli the iiew harvest. with a fairly satisfactory balance. It might be necessary to reduce the importation of meat in favour of moro urgent commodities. Our herds probably were larger than ever. There was little prospect of a meat shortage if the public , sr consumption were reasonable. It had "been decided to abolish, meatless days owing to the increased consumption of. substitutes. Bearding the question of compulsory rationing, Lord Devonport merely said that a' scheme had been prepared. , PRESS CAMPAIGN FOR IMMEDI-" ATE RATIONING. . London, May 8. ' Tho newspapers urge tho immediate rationing of broadstuffs, particularly as the Food Controller (Lord.Dewmport) states that the stocks of maize, oatmeal, barley, rice, and flour are not obtainable in sufficient quantities to be used as wheat substitutes, and that, therefore, they must be used as sparingly as bread.—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn.