FOOD SUPPLIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 March 1943, Page 4

FOOD SUPPLIES

FOR FIGHTING FORCES IN PACIFIC AUSTRALIA’S PROGRAMME. HEAVY DEMANDS BEING MET. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. Australia had accepted the responsibility of feeding the whole of the United States forces in the South-West Pacific area, and, to the extent that New Zealand was unable to supply, in the South Pacific area, declared the Commonwealth Minister for Supply, Mr Beasley, answering demands by Sir Earle Page for a single food authority in Australia. There had never been a complaint from the Allied fighting forces in Australia of a shortage of food through breakdown in supply, said the Minister. Nor had Australia refused a single request from Britain, India or the Middle East for food supplies for the fighting services. “Today,” Mr Beasley added, “I authorised the production of dry provisions for our American Allies, covering a twelve months’ programme, to the value of sixteen million pounds. These needs we can meet, in addition to those of our own fighting .forces, the essential needs of the civilian population and our commitments to Britain and other war theatres.”