Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1946. FOOD CAMPAIGN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 272, 29 August 1946, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1946. FOOD CAMPAIGN

There is at present being conducted a Dominion-wide campaign for food coupons for Britain,' and associated with the campaign will be a flight throughout the country of the R.A.F. Lancaster, Aries, which carried out many notable flights prior to setting a new record for the journey from England to New Zealand. Many and various are the ideas which are being worked up in connection with the campaign. One of N these consists of the dropping of leaflets by a New Zealand plane accompanying the Aries, bearing a message from the British Minister of Food to the Prime Minister of New Zealand in which appreciation is expressed for the help New Zealand has given to the Mother Country. In Christchurch, for instance, the public will be peTmited to enter Wigram Aerodrome to view the plane on the surrender of food coupons. The people of Ashburton will have no such opportmi' ity. They will see the plane in flight on its way south, and may glimpse the fluttering leaflets, but it is perhaps just as well that no extortion of coupons is to be made. Hundreds would no doubt find the necessary coupons to enable them to view the Aries, but it is doubtful if any real sacrifice would be involved. The people of Britain are in dire need of help, and New Zealanders, if they really appreciate the sacrifices made by the people of Britain throughout six long years of war, should nor need to be given something in return for offering up food coupons. The British .High Commissioner in New Zealand recently released a statement in which he said: “People in Britain are just beginning to realise something of the extent to which industries of the country have forged ahead in the production of high quality goods. Many of these are already familiar to buyers in most other countries of the world, but in the land of their manufacture they are only just starting to appear in the shops.” We read also of huge increases in exports of all kinds, and these achievements are being made on existing rations. The people of Britain are only now being given the chance to procure a few of the things which they have been denied so long, but they have had to produce them themselves. But, in spite of their loyalty and their will to face meagre rations, they cannot produce nearly sufficient food to bring even a little relief. New Zealand can help considerably.’ A complete answer has been, given to rumours that a big percentage of food parcels are confiscated, and it now remains for the people to answer the call, and to answer it without any form of inducement. If any reward is sought, then it will be had in the gratitude of the British people.