MORE RATIONING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 November 1943, Page 3

MORE RATIONING

ANTICIPATED IN AUSTRALIA. SHORTAGE OF IMPORTANT FOODSTUFFS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 17. The effect of war demands is being increasingly felt on the Australian food front. Foods which are likely to be in scant supply even before the end of this year include meat (particularly pork and poultry), eggs, dried fruits, .jams and preserves, and some vegetables. Milk supplies are expected to be restricted in the New Year. A possible wheat shortage in New South Wales may lead to the introduction of a standardised loaf in this State. Warnings of these pending food scarcities have been given by a Commonwealth agricultural authority, whose contentions are largely supported by a statistical analysis of Australia’s food production and the demands upon it. A special survey of 40,000 vegetable farms reveals that next season’s production, due to shortness of labour and material, will be below the official target by

56,000 acres—representing about onequarter of Australia’s vegetable output in any pre-war year.

Additional rationing in the New Year has been forecast by the chairman of the Rationing Commission, Mr Coles. It has not been disclosed what commodities will be affected, but it has been stated officially that meat rationing, which is to begin in January, will be only part of the restrictions to be imposed. Other food items may be included.