BRITAIN'S FOOD SUPPLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1917, Page 3

BRITAIN'S FOOD SUPPLY.

GRAVE OFFICIAL WARNING.; London, March 11. Captain Bathurst, secretary to Lord Devonport, Food Controller, issued a warning of the gravest character in a speech at Gloucester. He said: "Battles may be won, yet the war lost, and foi. lowed by an ignoble peace, because of a food and money shortage. At the present rate of consumption there will be no potatoes left in England in six weeks." The speaker further stated that Lord Devonport contemplated taking a most drast I 0 course in regard to hoarders of foodstuffs, whom he classes as contemptIw Rn t. d lm P atr 'otic. 'Ho warned them that there was a probability of search warrants being issued with the view of exposing their criminal selfishness. Wholesale dealers expect, a potato famine in May and June, owing to-the Government commandeering- one-third of the Jersey crop. The English crop will not be ready before June. Meanwhile the shortage is intensified. The majority of London greengrocers are without I potatoes, and women of all classes are hunting the shops fruitlessly, and stautf. mg m long queues in poorer quarters Swede turnips at 2d per lb are offered as substitutes. Other vegetables are very scarce. the increases in food prices continue particularly in canned goods. The Times' and Daily Mail urge that the military authorities should immediately release ploughmen for the next six weeks otherwise the 1917 harvests will be lost