RELIEF OF FAMINE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 30, 15 November 1943, Page 6

RELIEF OF FAMINE.

MEASURES TAKEN IN BENGAL.

ARRIVALS OF FOOD TRAINS. LONDON, Nov. 12. Between July 17 and October ”1 a total of 196,000 tons of food grains arrived in Calcutta for the relief of the famine. These figures exclude arrivals at other ports of Bengal or arrivals during the free trade period. Such arrivals alone are reported to total 100,000 tons, according to information that is reaching the India Office. The Government of Bengal has been tackling the problem of relief and is taking responsibility for the maintenance, medical treatment and reparia* tion of destitute persons to their homes.

In Calcutta hospitals there are now 2000 beds available for the destitute.

It is also reported that 3300 tons of food and grain are reaching Calcutta that 20,000 tons are being sent daily from Calcutta to the districts stricken by famine.

PLANS FOR FEEDING PEOPLE.

STATE AND MERCHANTS ACTING

LONDON, November 12

The Government of Bengal has adopted a compromise between Government and private trading for the distribution of , the new rice crop, which will form the bulk of the food for the 60,000,000 people of Bengal for the next 12 months, according to the Calcutta correspondent of “The Times.” The Government assumes responsibiity for supplementing supplies in deficit areas, and merchants will be appointed commission agents to buy for the Government in surplus areas. ‘ > •

Only movements of grain across district boundaries on Government account will be permissible. Rice movements within each district will be left to private merchants. The Government will appoint more staff as a precaution against speculative hoarding. The Calcutta industrial area is the largest deficit district. The emptying of stooks in neighbouring cillages has caused 100,000 people to trek to the city, searching for food. With Calcutta’s needs met and a good harvest expected, there should be an abund,ance of grain in the coming year. A Dublin message says that the Eire Parliament unanimously voted £200,000 for the Irish Red Cross for the relief of distress caused by Avar and famine in Europe and India. Half this sum will be sent to India immediately.