Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1943. THE FOOD CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 170, 30 April 1943, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1943. THE FOOD CONFERENCE.

The lesson of this cenfilry, says ‘The Times,” is that, given the will, the be.made to provide ail sustenance for all of its people. Inis statement -strikes at the root of the whole prdblem of the supply; of food, the primary need of all living creatures. A solution would concern not only production, but also distribution, with ramifications into many phases of industry and commerce. lhus the international food conference that is to meet in the United States next month will have an enormous, almost a limitless, question before it. The tentative agenda to be submitted by the American representatives seems to recognise the complexity of the subject, and in some respects to face it courageously. Denying, in effect, the existence of any real food surpluses, but admitting only unequal distribution, the proposition’sees in a balanced nutrition throughout the world —in other words, a higher general dietary standard—a solution of economic difficulties in food production. Even sd, it does recognise by implication the existence or the possibility of some surpluses. Wheat is singled out .- in this respect, obviously because failure to find sufficient markets for all the wheat-growing countries can produce was a problem severely felt in the United States before the war. Yet the proposed . remedy, restricted production and international control of stocks, db'es not show the wide vision of other suggestions. If general standards are to be raised, it should be possible to consume all the normal wheat harvest of the world, and more. The wheat-consuming people are far outnumbered by the many,., millions Lwho never see it, relying instead on rice, rye, millet, maize or other grains. If the conference is to be truly worldwide .in its scope it must consider the fodd habits, of all mankind, and whether they can be altered for the better. ~ If that is done, if practical means of bririgihg it about can be devised, there will be n 0 pluses of any kind to threaten agricultural prosperity and concern Go/-, ernments.