THE FOOD PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1918, Page 5

THE FOOD PROBLEM.

COMPULSORY RATIONING NECESSARY. Washington, Jan. 7. Lord Rhondda cables that he views the food situation with grave anxiety, and is unable now to avoid compulsory rationing in England. GOVERNMENT NEGLECT COLD STORAGE. DISTRIBUTION OF X.Z MEAT. Received Jan. 8, 8.40 p.a London, Ja.. ~ The Evening Standard rcpoits that, in an interview, a refrigerating expert stated that the Government had not added a single cubic foot of cold storage since the war began, and had actually stopped some proposed storages. But for Mr. Wardle's efforts, the Port of London store, holding half a million carcases, would not have licen completed. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner, received a deputation from the New Zealand Agents' Association, who complained that the Food Controller had taken New Zealand meat from the Board of Trade and was distributing it through a wholesale meat supply association, contrary to the terms of the'original agreement, whereby the Board of Trade agreed to distribute through agents nominated by the producers. The deputation asserted that the alteration, if it became P'.rmanent, would detrimentally affect the New Zealand trade, and asked that steps be taken to revert to the original terms.

tSir Thomas Mackenzie promised to approach the Board of Trade. He said he assumed this was an emergency measure.

HALF SUPPLIES OF MEAT. Received Jan. !), 12.50 a.m. London, Jan. 8. The Daily Chronicle states that a regulation is being issued, putting provincial butchers on half supplies of meat next week. Sheep prices will be controlled. BRITISH CAPTURES. DURLNG PAST YEAR. 114,544 MEN AND 781 GUNS. Received Jan. 8, 11..15 p.m. London, Jan. 7. The War Office states that British captures in 1917 were as follows: *S Prisoners. Guns. Western Theatre ... 73,131 531 Palestine 17,640 108 Mesopotamia 15,944 124 East Africa 0,728 18 Salonika 1,095 Total 114,544 781 The British losses were as follows: Prisoners. Guns. Western Theatre (ap proximately) 27,200 100 Palestine ,: 010 Mesopotamia t 267 East Africa x 100 Salonika .: 202 Total „.>,;. 28,379 160