Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1942. SHIPS AND FOOD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 122, 5 March 1942, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1942. SHIPS AND FOOD.

The people of Britain have been warned that imports of food will be reduced in the present year and that it may be necessary to reduce the existing rations. The reason, as the Minister explained, is that the choice has to be made whether particular ships would best contribute to victory by carrying food supplies to Britain or supporting the armies in other parts of the world. A similar reason necessitated a recent reduction in certain rations and with the serious developments in the eastern theatre of the war it applies with much greater force at present, for it is undeniable that the toll of shipping in that area has been heavy, while there is increased submarine activity in the western Atlantic. The implications of the Minister’s statement must not be missed in New Zealand. During last year the Dominion exported twelve million hundredweight of meat, butter and cheese and some thirty million pounds of processed meat. By far the greater part of these foodstuffs would have been destined for Great Britain. In time of peacer that is 1938, Great Britain imported half its butter, almost all its cheese, most of its wheat, more than half its mutton and lamb, a quarter of its beef, and a quarter of its bacon from Empire countries —and in mutton and lamb and cheese New Zealand was a front-rank. contributor. Twothirds of the sugar and most of its tea and cocoa were imported by Britain from Empire sources. New Zealand has already been informed by Mr Barclay that our exports of meat to Britain will be reduced this year. It follows that the diversion of shipping will mean that there will be less space available for bringing essential supplies to this country, vvhile non-essentials will necessarily be reduced to a minimum. Even so, New Zealand remains a fortunate country. It produces a superabundance of two things in which Britain is to economise—butter and cheese. If imported goods which can be done without grow scarce. New Zealand should remember how the British public has uncomplainingly accepted reduced supplies of many things this country has enjoyed in abundance during more than two years of war.