FOOD PROBLEMS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24237, 20 April 1944, Page 2

FOOD PROBLEMS IN BRITAIN

ADDRESS BY MR W. BANKES AMERY Thirteen hundred women attended a meeting, convened by the Christchurch branch of the National Council of Women and held on Tuesday night in the Civic Theatre, to hear an address by Mr W. Bankes Amery. leader of the British Food Mission. Mrs, C. W. Barrell, president of the local branch of the council, presided, and with her on the platform were the Mayoress, Miss E. Couzins, and the Dominion president of the National Council ox Women, Miss M. G. Havelaar. Mr Amery described the concerted action taken to feed Britain’s 47,000.000 inhabitants during five years of blockade and said that it was the all-in response of all members of the community that had defeated the i blockade. His address followed the lines of that delivered to members of the Travel Club a fortnight ago. He outlined the steps taken early in the war to prevent hoarding and, later, the introduction of rationing. England, he said, was proud of its National Milk Scheme, which provided adequate milk supplies and vitamins for expectant mothers, babies, and children, at half the usual price. Adults received only four pints ox milk a week in summer and two pints a week in winter, and although this was a hardship to many, parti-M* a fiio to old persons, all agreed that the scheme was fair. That it was effective was proved by the fact that the \materhal and infant mortality was, i 1942, the lowest on previous record and in 1943 was still lower. Mr Amery gave details of the amount of fppd allowed in Britain—ls 2d worth of meat (about 11b), two ounces of butter, and two ounces of cheese for each person each week. “And there is no hope ot munition workers being able to maintain their output if this minimum is reduced.” said Mr Apiery. and no hope of even this meagre ration being maintained unless Britain receives greater supplies from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. , A motion was carried pledging the women present to do all in their power to increase production and reduce consumption in the Dominion in order that greater supnlies of meat, butter, and cheese should be sent to Britain. A- further resolution was carried as follows: “That this meeting of women of Christchurch ask the Government to allow dairy butter to be obtained m. exchange for coupons, so that the bulk of factory butter could be sent to Britain.” OBITUARY MRS ANN TRELEAVEN Mrs Ann Treleaven, who died recently, was a prominent worker for the Red Cross Society during the last war and after, and an energetic member of many other organisations. She will be long remembered for her wholehearted enthusiasm for any work she tor. up. • ~ , ' Mrs Treleaven was the widow of Mr C. J. Treleaven, and during her husband’s term of office as secretary of the Navy League and for some years later she spent much time working for the league and especially for the younger members. With Mrs H. T. J. Thacker and Mrs H. Wyatt she helped to form the junior branch of the league, and was a foundation member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Navy League. Mrs Treleaven was a foundation member of the Sanatorium Service Society, visiting patients in the Sanatorium, and was also a prominent member of the Ladies’ Guild of the British Sailors’ Society. She leaves one daughter, Mrs R. Trent (Christchurch), and one son, lan Treleaven, who is an officer in the R.N.Z.A.F. PLUNKET SOCIETY LYTTELTON BRANCH Mrs B. H. Gilmour presided at the monthly meeting of the committee of the Lyttelton branch of the Plunket Society, held in the Council Chambers. A motion of sympathy was passed with Mrs Plimmer in the loss of her father. Mrs E. Green was welcomed as a new member of the committee. Final arrangements were made for the annual May day party to be held at the end of the month. First prizes for essays on the Plunket Society’s bay at- the recent health display week were won by Joan Curties and Geoffrey Goode, of the Main School, and a second prize by Stephen .Tredennick, of the Convent School. Nurse Davies’s report was as follows:—' Lyttelton.—Visits to rooms; adults 115, babies 94, pre-school children 25, new cases 5; home visits 25: telephone calls 2. Heathcote.—Visits to rooms: adults 13, babies 13, pre-school children 3, new case 1.

The thirty-sixth annual report of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children records the death during the year of several faithful friends of the society—Bishop Brodie, “who,” the report says, “seldom missed an annual meeting and always said something worth listening to, and up to the last talked about our work”; Mr C. R. N. Mackie, a foundation member who did much valuable work, Mrs F. E. Blltcliff, and Mr J. Andrews, the society’s collector and organiser.

Day of Intercession.—The president of the New Zealand Methodist Conference (the Rev. C. H. Olds) has asked the Methodists of New Zealand to unite their intercessions with those of the sister churches in England and abroad on April 23, which will be observed as a special day of prayer 1 and intercession. —(P.A.)

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