LONDONS FOOD CONTROL

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 10 March 1939, Page 12

LONDONS FOOD CONTROL

♦ APPOINTMENT ’ OF NEW CHIEF CRITICISM IN HOUSE OF COMMONS araoit ova own cossispoxdext.) , LONDON, February <•!&. The appointment of Sir Reginald Ford, who is at present living in Brussels, as Chief Divisional Food Controller for London, was discussed in the House of Commons, and members of all parties pressed Mr Oliver Stanley’ to reconsider the position. Mr Stanley was "deeply impressed” by the arguments, but defended the appointment on the ground of Sir Reginald’s special knowledge of providing transport in wartime conditions. He added, however, that in view of Sir Reginald’s increasing age, it was never the intention that the appointment should last for a very long time. Sir Reginald Ford, who is 70 years of age, is a retired army officer drawing a pension of more than £IOOO a year. He was appointed before the question of his residence in Brussels was raised, and Mr Stanley had seen no reason to alter it afterwards. Sir Reginald is given a retaining fee of 250 guineas a year, and his travel expenses by air to and from Brussels are to be paid by the State. His duties at present are not such that he requires any staff. His sole responsibility in peace time is to make contact with three divisional officers under him and to take part in consultations when necessary. The case against the appointment started with Sir Reginald’s residence in Brussels, but it. soon broadened. Mr Cartland (Conservative) was told that Sir Reginald had not been invited to give his services, instead of taking a retaining fee, and Opposition members insisted on the difficulty of making an effective appeal for national voluntary service when a man of Sir Reginald’s position was receiving such, favourable treatment.

Mr A. V. Alexander (Labour), who for three years has been closely con nected with work for the Food Defence Department, spoke of all the magnificent help being, given freely to that department by the traders of the country. 1 Sir Joseph Nall (Conservative), who knows the transport industry, spoke of at least a dozen men who had wartime experience of transport and civilian experience since who would give their services now without a retaining fee. Sir Joseph also observed that retired army officers domiciled abroad escaped some of the British taxes.