MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

NATIONAL FOOD SUPPLY.

TO BE COMPLETELY ORGANISED.

A FOOD DICTATOR TO BE APPOINTED.

CONCENTRATION ON SHIPBUILDING

GOVERNMENT'S DRASTIC ACTION.

Received Nov. 16, 7.10 p,m,

London, Nov. 15. In the House of Commons, Mr. W. A S. Hcwins moved: That it is the Governmint's duty to adopt further methods of organisation to increase the national food supply and so diminish the ri.skof shortage in the event of the war being prolonged. He stated that we were faced with a permanent increase in prices which would last for many years The problem was primarily one of production. We should adopt a national agriculture policy.

Mr. W. Runeiman, President of the Board of Trade, said the strain this country would have to bear in 1917 was primarily one of food supplies. Tragic as it might be, it would be more severe for Austro-Germany. He declared it would he unnecessary to stimulate the production of wheat in Canada or Australia. Canada's crop was abundant and transport easy. Next year we would have to depend upon Australian supplies. The fact that we had commandeered a large fleet and that the artificial rates had been based upon the problem of transport had also encouraged Australian production. The food problem was shared by France and Italy. The Governments regarded the whole shipment of wheat for the Allies as one problem, to be dealt with by one requisitioned fleet. It was expected that half a year's production of shipping would approach half a million tons. The Government was arranging for the pooling of engineering effort on the Tyuo and elsewhere, and was bringing back hundreds of skilled workers from the front. In a normal year we could build practically the whole tonnage lost since the war. Germany knew we had chartered neutrals' ships, hence the submarine warfare. The Government was taking powers to prevent undue profits on the part of 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 purposes wharefor the articles would b n used, and prosecute persons wasting cr destroying food. If voluntary effort of economy failed, drastic measures would be necessary.

The Government proposed to prohibit the milling of fine white flour, this raising the yield eight and a-half per cent. The Government was taking powers to regulate the irarket, prevent cornering; and deal with the sale and distribution of articles. In ordei to be in a position to act immediately, if necessity arose, they would use food tickets. The Government did not propose to fix minimum prices, but asked for power to fix fair prices. He was being told that the country wanted to be governed. He asked the House to give the Cabinet power to govern

Mr. Runciman explained that a Birl would bo passed at the earliest possible moment embodying the Government's proposals. Some were immediately practicable under existing powers, notably the proposals relating to milk contracts, potato stocks, and flour milling. A food controller would be appointed immediately. If a suitable man were found he would have drastic powers. The Board of Trade would regard him as the most, essential man in the Empire. Demonstrating the necessity for treating the big shipbuilding centres as on;.' concern, he instanced the fact of sixteen vessels at different yards awaiting engines. He had arranged to concentrate work upon the most advanced vessels, and hoped that by the end of tho year 110 vessels would be lying half-finished. Mr. Runciman regarded new construction as a most important part of the shipping problem. There was a temporary steel shortage, but lie hoped, as a. result of the Munition Minister's action, that ample supplies would be available next year.

Sir Edward Carson said the House ex pected more drastic proposals. The country should be told the difficulties were due to a reduction of tonnage by submarines, rather than to illegitimate profits. He hoped the food controller would be a dictator with power to snub departments if they failed to do what lie required. Mr. W. J. Wardle, on behalf of Labor, welcomed the proposals, and opined tho* the country's resources ought to have been organised at the outbreak of war. He expected Mr. Runciman woald have to go still further in this direction.

FOOD SUPPLIES. A CO-ORDINATED POLICY WTTfi DOMINIONS. London, November 15. The Colonial Institute presented an illuminated address to Mr. Hampard in recognition of his Dominion tour. Mr. Tfampard said the Empire had a duty, in view of future submarine possibilities, to have stores of food available in Britain in case of need. They ought to produce the utmost in Britain, but opportunities were limited, whereas they were illimitable in the dominions. Earl Grey said he was communicating with the, dominions and colonies, and hoped that some of them would take a practical step towards co-ordin-ating Home and Dominion policies.

COUNTERING THE SUBMARINES.

BRITISH LOSS 2} PER CENT. London, Nov. la. Tn the House of Commons, repl'ying to a question, Mr. MacNamara said that the Admiralty was unremitting in its attention to the possibility of countering the activity of enemy submarines. It should be remembered that out of the total British tonnage of merchant shipping we lost to September 13 only •lightly over 2i per cent, j .