FOOD RATIONS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22907, 2 January 1940, Page 8

FOOD RATIONS IN BRITAIN

DECISION RECEIVED FAVOURABLY

NO GENERAL HARDSHIP EXPECTED

(BBTTTOB OmCUI WTEILEBB.) (Received January 1, 9 p.m.) RUGBY, December 29. The Food Ministry's announcement of a definite date for the rationing of butter, bacon, and sugar found the public fully prepared for this measure. It is recognised that although these are the first commodities to be rationed in Britain, they will not be the last. The rationing of meat was foreshadowed in the announcement, and it is expected to take effect in February.

So far from receiving it with apprehension, almost all the newspapers regard the rationing decision as a proper one, the "Daily Express" alone persisting that the course is unnecessary. "The Times" states: "The v announcement produces a sense of relief. There is no hardship in the sugar ration, which has been fixed at more than a quarter higher than the present German ration, the less so since in Germany, jam is rationed as well as sugar. "Rationing- is no indication of any success in the enemy's campaign to starve us out. On the contrary, this campaign on which he is reported to have founded great hopes is c 1 early failing, and will certainly fail. Rationing is not the consequence of an indiscriminate pursuit of economy, but of a desire to ensure the wisest possible outlay of all means to victory."

The "Daily Mail" states that rationing will inflict no general hardship, and the "News-Chronicle" states that the country will accept it with good grace. The "Daily Telegraph" notes that Germany, which by the great development of her beet sugar outout has become self-sufficient in that commodity, has fixed her weekly sugar ration, not at 12 ounces, which is the British ration, but at eightand three-quarter ounces a head, and she has also rationed preserves. In this countrv the sugar beet output'last year fell to 289,000 tons, but the Government expects this year's output to be as high as 475,000 tons—roughly one-fifth of the nation's total consumption. The balance is being supplied in almost equal proportions from the Empire and f-:eign sources. SERIOUS EFFECT IN HOLLAND EXPORTS OF BUTTER AND BACON AMSTERDAM, December 29. The Dutch paper "Handelsblad" states that Britain's butter rationing is nothing short of catastrophic for the Dutch dairy industry. Holland last year sent to England 70 per cent, of her bytter export, the percentage rising to 80 in the first nine months of 1939. Bacon rationing will also have a serious effect, for Holland is at present slaughtering 10,000 pigs weekly for England. If this is halved it will mean a reduction by one-eighth of the country's slaughterings.

CLOTHING FOR POLISH REFUGEES

SHIPMENTS ARRIVE FROM BRITAIN (BEITI9H OFFICIAL WtBELESB.) RUGBY, December 29. Christmas was brightened for Polish refugees in Hungary and Rumania by the arrival of the first shipments of clothing from Britain. Already more than 1,000,000 articles of clothing are on the way—many of them givei. by the British public, but still more purchased out of the ißrvtvsb. Government's grant of £IOO,OOO for Polish relief. Each week consignments are being sent. The clothing will be distributed by the local representatives of the Polish Relief Fund with the assistance of the Hungarian and Rumanian Red Cross organisations, to camps and hostels for refugees in the two countries.

VOLUNTEERS FOR FINLAND

» LONDON, December 29. Finnish volunteers from Canada, many of whom left good jobs and comfortable homes, have landed at Helsinki to assist in the defence of their homeland. A detachment of Swedish volunteers sailed from Stockholm last night. A Foreign Office spokesman pointed out that they were going on their own initiative and at their own expense. The people in one Danish town have decided to send to Finland the money which they usually spend on fireworks and other New Year celebrations.

INTERCESSION SERVICE IN LONDON CBBITISB OmCUL WTEBLEB3.) RUGBY, December 29. The Finnish Minister will attend the service of intercession for Finland to be held in the Westminster Central Hall on Sunday. The service will be conducted by the Moderator of the Federal Council of Free Churches, and the prayers will be read by the President of the National Council of Evangelical Free Churches.

Nazis claim three sinkings: '■'■;._■■

LONDON, December 29. Nazi officials are jubilant at the torpedoing of a British battleship. It is claimed that this is the fourth battleship .casualty, the others being the Hood, the Repulse, and the Royal Oak. [