BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21726, 7 March 1936, Page 17

BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLIES

Aspect of Defence Programme LESSON OF LAST WAR (UNITED PSESS ASSOCIATION—COPTBIOHT.) (Received March 6, 9.47 p.m.) LONDON, March 5. The Sun-Herald News Service says that Britain’s food supply is among outstanding problems of the defence programme. The last war’s unforgettable lesson, that Britain could only feed herself for six weeks during a blockade, has caused comprehensive Government investigations into possible preparations for a recurrence. The Sun-Herald understands that the Government discussion of food proposals is connected with Mr Baldwin’s statement in the House of Commons on March 3, that the Committee on Imperial Defence is considering means of increasing production of home-grown foodstuffs; r It is believed that the proposals include control of imports of overseas foodstuffs either by quotas or earmarked tariffs; propaganda for the cultivation of more allotments and small holdings (and even gardens); inducements to, unemployed to join the land workers, the number of whom has dropped , by 45,000 in five, years; Government loans to enable the increase of holdings and the improvement of livestock; the construction of huge granaries and cold storage depots for reserves of corn, flour, and meat; and the erection-of factories, in conjunction with marketing boards,for the manufacture of cheese, condensed milk, and butter.