FOOD SITUATION IN BRITAIN.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14592, 21 December 1917, Page 5

FOOD SITUATION IN BRITAIN.

FOOD QUEUES TO BE STOPPED.

CENTRES OF POTENTIAL MIS- ,

CHIEF.

((Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

London, Dec. 19.

Lord Rhondda, Food Controller, in a speech, said that every food queue was a centre, of possible mischief, and must and would be stopped. The Ministry would support local food committees initiating schemes for a more equitable distribution. He would consider a scheme for compelling customers to register at one shop . for butter and margarine. Compulsory rationing would probably be necessary, but there waa no fear of starvation. The prices of potatoes, meat, bread, margarine, and cheese had been reduced in the last half-year, and tie cost of living had fallen 10 per cent. The Ministry's methods precluded the possibility of profiteering, to which the increase of j prices was slightly due. Committees j could prosecute and drive out profiteers from business. He believed the country was willing for most drastic regulations so long as the sacrifices were equal.