MEAT FOR BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1941, Page 6

MEAT FOR BRITAIN

RESTRICTION ON PURCHASES

FROM DOMINIONS IN INTERESTS OF WAR SUPPLY MIDDLE EAST & OTHER DEMANDS. STATEMENT EY LORD WOOLTON. 'Ry Telcniujih—Prp<; Association—Copyiigli!i (Received This Day. at Noon.) LONDON, January 14. Britain’s purchases of foodstuffs from the Dominions, already restricted by the demands of the war cn shipping space, are likely to be still further restricted. This was revealed by Lord Woolton, Food Minister, in explaining to the High Commissioners a new shipping system to be introduced. Under the plan, ships will be diverted to shorter routes, to bring food at present imported from the more distant countries. The Minister said the High Commissioners unanimously accepted the position. Reviewing the general food position. Lord Woolton said: "Are we starving? Of course we aren't, but the public are having difficulties because they have been accustomed to buy whatever they wanted. The ships previously bringing food are now carrying vast • quantities of munitions and also providing lines of communications for the African armies.” His policy, he added, would be to provide the essential foods, eliminating canned fruits and all fresh fruits except oranges and lemons. The only Now Zealand commodity likely to be affected was meat. A reduction of meat shipments from New Zealand would continue until ships wen; no longer required in the Middle‘East. The temporary shortage of meat in the United Kingdom was due to diversion of meat ships to Africa, carrying not i merely meat but vast supplies enabling a groat military victory. The food situation was much better than in the last war. although the dangers were much greater, as cargoes wore no longer safe once they had reached port. Lord Woolton said: “We want to keep the goodwill of the Dominions, whose business we are damaging a great deal. The Dominions have been i

most patriotic and I am anxious that they should know that we are con- I scious of the suffering inflicted on , them. Only stern necessity has made us demand such sacrifices."