LEADE’RS PLEA

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32421, 21 April 1944, Page 6

LEADE’RS PLEA

FOOD NEED FOR BRITAIN MR S. HOLLAND’S ADDRESS FARMERS WILL DO UTMOST "No problem of manpower, no coinplaint that may be justified about prices, no grouch about the inequality of reward, are comparable with the agonies endured by our gallant kiii: and kin in Britain during the past four and a half years," said the Lead er of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, in a strong appeal he made to a very largely-attended meeting of National Party supporters in Thames on Tuesday evening.

He appealed for the need for increased production of foodstuffs so urgently needed to maintain the present meagre rations of two ounces of butter. three ounces of cheese and one pound of meat, the present rations of the British public. “Of Britain’s adult population of nearly 34,000,000, no less than 23,500,000 are in full-time employment in vital services, and of these 7,000,000 are women, one-third of whom are married with family re-

sponsibilities.” The speaker said that notwithstanding the enormous “draw-off” to munitions and similar industries, Britain had become 70 per cent self-sufficient for foodstuffs compared with 40 per cent before the war. Gallant Merchant Navy “When I think of the gallantry of Britain’s Merchant Navy I am lost in admiration,” said Mr Holland. “The amaizng successes scored in North Africa were largely due to the Merchant Navy, which, with the co-opera-tion of the Royal Navy, transported over 50,000 men, 50.000 tanks and other vehicles, and 1,000,000 tons of stores over the extremely perilous 12.000 miles of ocean from Britain. No less than 3,000.000 tons of military stores were shipped to Africa for the Tunisian campaign, and 77.000,000 tons of cargo were convoyed from Canada through the submarine-infested waters of the North Atlantic.” The Blitz Of London Reviewing the blitz period on London. Mr Holland said tlial over 2,500,000 houses in Britain had been destroyed or damaged, which meant about one in every five in the country. Up to June, 1943, the Royal Air Force, in co-operation with the anti-aircraft gunners, had brought down 17,500 German planes. “Let us plan our nrimary production on those achievements,” said Mr Holland. The speaker also pointed out that when Britain was hardest pressed she bad sent vast quantities of stores to Russia and had thus made possible much of the magnificent advance of our gallant allies. By the end of 1942 Britain had supplied Russia with almost 6000 aeroplanes, more than 6000 of the latest tanks, and more than 85,000 other vehicles. That equipment was sufficient to equip 32 armoured divisions. When rubber was in short supply Britain sent to Russia no less than 50,000 tons of her precious stocks. A Perilous Position “With Britain, food is not just another problem; it is a crisis,” said Mr Holland. “Unless supplies are increased she will not be able to maintain her present meagre rations. I feel sure that no patriotic New Zealander will permit local prejudices and feelings to cloud the real issue of Britain’s food peril. I feel compelled to do everything in my power to point out to New Zealanders the seriousness of the position to the

farmers of New Zealand. I feel that no injustices such as prices will permit them to produce less than the absolute maximum of which they are capable. “The National Party will never fail to fight to the limit of its resources to ensure that the primary producer receives justice and fair play, but it would be a tragedy if the people of Britain were denied the food they are in such urgent need of because of some local circumstances over which they have no control.” concluded Mr Holland.