FOOD FOR BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1941, Page 5

FOOD FOR BRITAIN

PRESENT & FUTURE EFFECTS OF AMERICAN AID BEARING ON DOMINIONS TRADE. APPREHENSIONS IN LONDON. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright, LONDON, April 19. There is considerable apprehension in commercial circles in, London about the long-term effect of the United States Lease and Lend Act on the Dominions’ food exports.

The Act apparently will enable Britain to secure unlimited quantities of wheat, fruit and other products from the United States without the payment of a penny while the war lasts. The United States has embarrassing surpluses of some commodities, and helping Britain will provide a useful outlet for them. Washington can afford to finance the exports. and by doing so will secure invaluable connections and goodwill in Britain.

Britain's war expenditure has reached such an enormous height that it is considered unreasonable to expect the United Kingdom to refuse the American help in favour of the Dominions’ goods which, in comparison, are most expensive in every respect and must be paid for and must be carried further in precious ships. The Lease and Lend Act is yet another of the war time factors which many people fear are driving the Dominions back to the role of their infancy, that is, exporters of wool and little else.

The United Kingdom, it is believed, will be anxious to take all the butter that is available at the moment, but is urging that New Zealand and Australian butter should give way to cheese, which does not require refrigeration for shipment. Refrigeration will have an increasing influence on other products, such as meat, for which there will probably be shipping space if it is canned instead of chilled or frozen.