HON LLOYD GEORGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1917, Page 3

HON LLOYD GEORGE.

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] ON THE FOOD QUESTION. LONDON, Doc. 20. Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George addressed a full House on the Naval and Military situation. Ho first touched tlio good problem, which two circumstances aggravated—first, the failuro to g< * butter and margarine from Denmark and Holland; and second, the Allied food shortage was greater than anticipated. Therefore Britain was compelled to sacrifice some .of her own resources ih order to supply the Allies Responsibility rested with those possessing stocks'of tea .margarine, and butter to ensure a fair distribution. The people did not mind a shortage so much as the suspicion that others were getting more than their share. He hoped it would he unnecessary to J control large multiple stores. If they took stops to secure equal distribution, there would be no need for queues, and < the discontent which they created. SPEECH CONTINUED. ' (Received this day at 12.30 a.ra.) LONDON, Dec. 20th.

Hon. Lloyd George continued: The food position was steadily improving. Although they were unable to obtain adequate labour and steel for shipbuilding, this was being remedied. The construction was increased and was K reil " or in 1917 than in the boom year of 1913. Since June the shipping losses have decreased steadily and the °' rer margin of loss was now narrow. Ihe estimate of our ship-building progiamme was not quite realised, although the tonnage was down twenty per cent, the loss “of imports was six per cent, compared with 1916. This they had really grappled with the most menacing situation with which they were confronted in the war. Practically the whole nation’s shipping was requisitioned. A Blue Book states the sinkings of submarines was increasing. HOPES NOT REALISED. (Received. This Day at 8.30. a.m.) | LONDON December 21. Hon. Lloyd George said regarding the situation that it was idle to prc_ t e nd that our hopes at the beginning of the year had been realised. The dis appointment was attributable entirely to tho Russian collapse at the beginning of the year. The Russian Army was then better equipped with guns, aeroplanes and ammunition than over before. Nevertheless the Germans had n ot even held their own. On the. "W est Front, if the Russians had fulfilled their expectations, the pride of the Prussian military power would have | been compleetlv humbled. The Allied successes in 1917, the captureof Baghdad and surrender of.Teru- ( salem will have a permanent effect on the. world’s history. The capture or Jerusalem which will never he restored ( to the Turks, had rightly or wrongly, < added more to tho prestige of British arms than any event of the war. (