GRIM PROSPECT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 120, 23 May 1945, Page 5

GRIM PROSPECT

BRITAIN'S FOOD CUTS "Shock To Country And May Cause Resentment" N.Z.P.A. and British, Wireless Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDOIS| May 22, British consumers will find no alleviation in their food rationing conditions •in Colonel.. Llewellln's statement on fopd. supplies to-day; The,, main points of the Minister's statement are:— - • .- (1) The domestic sugar ration will probably be maintained/ but there will be no Christmas bonus of half a pound of preserving, sugar. ; (2) Tbk cooking fat ration will be reduced from 2bz to lqz a week. (3) The soap ration will be reduced by one-eighth, except for babies and young children. '■'-.; . : . ' (4) The quantity of non-priority 1 milk will be reduced earlier this year than last." : \ - ■ .. .X----(5) The cheese ration of- 26z .will be maintained. ■ (6) The reduction of the 1/2 meat ration will'be avoided by the-in-clusion of one-seventh of the supplies in the form of corned beef for about' five months of the year. : . (7) The points for canned meat will be reduced from 24 to 20 over a given rationing .period. •. ■ (8) There will- be no rice for' civilian consumption this year.!;., /German Prisoners' Stations Colonel Llewelliri emphasised that there would be no cut';in the national milk scheme, school meals or special measures .for providing mothers with food of particular value to babies. . The Minister added that steps were being taken to reduce the standard of rationing for German prisoners of war. It would be lower than the standard for civilians, but there would likely be additional allowances for prisoners who worked. Commenting on the new rations announced by Colonel Llewellin, the Daily Mail says that "no major item in our spartan diet, except cheese, is not affected," and adds: "Many are now reduced for the first time. Colonel Llewellin's decisions will be a shock to the country and likely to cause not only disappointment but resentment, because the people have been almost completely unprepared for the grim news now given them. "Next year our. belts, will have to be pulled tighter than they have been since 1939. We can grin and bear it provided we know that everything possible is done to mitigate shortages and that we are not called upon for an unfairly high contribution in what should be a common sacrifice."