FOOD RATIONING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 December 1943, Page 4

FOOD RATIONING

APPEAL TO AUSTRALIANS BY MR CURTIN FOR CHEERFUL ACCEPTANCE OF POSITION. COMMITMENTS TO BRITAIN & FORCES. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, December 1. A cheerful Australian acceptance of food rationing has been appealed for by the Federal Prime Minister, Mr Curtin. Australia, he said, had undertaken to give Britain 35 per cent of its total butter production and 22 per cent of its egg production. The Prime Minister gave a warning that serious food shortages would continue despite the civilian rationing of many products. Although meat rationing was to be introduced early in tne New Year, production estimates, after allowing for the reduced civilian consumption were still only 87 per cent of total requirements. “The Government is determined that its commitments to Britain and its obligations to the fighting forces will be discharged,” declared Mr Curtin. Discussing Australia’s obligations to Britain, the Prime Minister said Australians should remember that Britain had supplied Australia. with Spitfires and other vital equipment when she herself was. in great danger. Commenting editorially on Mr Curtin's statement, the “Sydney Herald says that apart from the immensely increased needs of the fighting sei vices, Australia's obligations to Britain have expanded until the} r have become almost limitless. So far, the incidence of rationing upon the Commonwealth has been comparatively light but the paper forecasts the rationing of other food besides meat in the new. year. “Nor is there anything alarming in this,”-it adds. “So far we have, been among the most fortunate .of all warring nations in supplies of food. That we must make great sacrifices so others may share our bounty has long been obvious.”