BRITAIN'S FOOD PROBLEM.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 17 November 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN'S FOOD PROBLEM.

GOVERNMENT TAKING BELATED ACTION. FOOD DICTATOR TO BE APPOINTED. LONDON. Nov 16. In the House of Commons, Mr Hewins moved that it was the Government's duty to adopt further methods of organisation to increase the nation- ( a] food supply and so diminish the risk of shortage in the event of the war being prolonged. He stated that we are faced with a permanent increase in prices that would lust for many years. The problem wag primarily one of production. We should adopt a national agricultural policy. Mr Kuneiman said the strain this country would have to bear in 1917 in regard primarily to food supplies, tragic, though it might be, would be more severe in Austro-Germany. He declared that it was unnecessary to stimulate the production of wheat, as .Canada's and Australia's crops were ,abunda!it and transport was easy. Next year we would have to rely on Australian supplies: in fact we had commandeered a large fleet. The food problem was shared by France and Italy. The Governments regarded the whole shipments of wheat for. the Allies as one problem to be dealt with by one requisitioned fleet. He expected that the half-year's production of shipping would approach half a million tons. The Government was arranging for the pooling of engineering effort on the Tyne and elsewhere and bringing back hundreds of skilled workers from the front. In a normal yean we could build practically the whole tonnage that had been lost sin'cc the war. Germany,,knew we had chartered neutral ships; hence / the submarine warfare.

Mr. Runcirnen said the Government was taking powers to prevent 'undue profits by potato-growers and milk-sellers. It would be necessary to dispense with some forms of food, especially elaborate confectionery. A Food Controller would be necessary to co-ordinate activities. Powers would be taken to prescribe the pur poses for which articles would be used and prosecute persons or destroying food. If efforts at; ;economy failed, drastic measures would be necessary. It was proposed to prohibit the milling of fine ■ white flour, thus raising the yield 8?> per cent. The Government was taking powers to regulate the market to prevent cornering and to deal with the sale and distribution of articles in order to be in a position to act immediately. If the necessity arose the Government would use food tickets. The Government did not propose to fix minimum prices, but asked for power to fix fair prices. He had been told that the country wanted to be governed. He asked the House to give Cabinet power to govern.

Sir Edward Carson said the House expected more drastic proposals. The country should be told the difficulties were due to the reduction of tonnage by submarines' rather than by illegitimate profits. He -hoped the Food Controller would be a dictator with power to snub departments if they failed to do what he required. Mr. Wardle, on behalf of Labour, welcomed the proposals. He opined that the country's resources ought to have been organised at the outbreak of the war. He expected Mr. Runciman would have to go yet farther in this direction.

Mr. Runciman explained that a Bill would be passed at the earliest moment embodying the Government's proposals. Some would be immediately practicable under existing pwers, notably those relating to niilk contracts, potato stocks and flour milling. The FoQd Controller would be appointed immediately a suitable man was found. He would have drastic, powers. The Board of, Trade regarded him as the most essential man in the Empire. As demonstrating the necessity for treating 'big ship-building centres as one concern, Mr. Runciman instanced that sixteen vessels at the Wearside yards were,awaiting engines. He had arranged to concentrate on the most advanced vessels, and hoped that at the end of the year no vessel wouiu lie half-finished. Mr. Runciman said he regarded, new construction as the most important part of the shipping problem. There was a temporary steel shortage, but he hoped that as a Tesult of the Munition Ministry's action, there would be ample supplies for the new year. BRITAIN'S FOOD PRICES. INCREASED 7S PER CENT. Received 5.55. LONDON. Nov 16. The Board of Trade Labour Gazette states that the average retail food prices for November 1 were five per cent, higher than a month (earlier, and compared with July, liul, prices have increased 78 per cent.