BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24798, 12 February 1946, Page 4

BRITAIN’S FOOD SUPPLIES

New Zealand Thanked For Help SIR HENRY FRENCH’S ADDRESS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. Feb. 11. Appreciation of the contribution by New Zealand to the war-time food supplies of the United Kingdom was expressed on behalf of the British Ministry of Food by Sir Henry French, who was permanent secretary of the Ministry from the outbreak of war in 1939 to September last. He was speaking at a reception given by the Government to-day. The food crisis which developed in Britain last week was briefly referred to by Sir Henry French, who said that anything New Zealand could do to send any extra dairy produce or meat to the United Kingdom would be greatly appreciated. He was satisfied that it was the desire of the New Zealand Government to be as helpful as it could.

The function was attended by representatives of the food production, processing and exporting industries, railways, and shipping interests. The Acting-Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. Nash), who presided, paid tribute to the magnificent work done in feeding the people of Britain. Forty million people, cut off from the rest of the world, had first set themselves to use their own resources to the full, supplemented by supplies from overseas. Britain’s health was maintained at the maximum, while food supplies in the ordinary sense were at the minimum. That was through the genius of the British people in being adaptable. Mr Nash also paid tribute to the farmers of Britain for the way they increased the productivity of their lands. There need be no worry about what Britain was producing 'in New Zealand’s market. New Zealand had had most friendly negotiations in the sale of produce. New Zealand did not worry about prices, but if other countries got better prices, she felt she should get them too, with one or two exceptions.

New Zealanders in Ministry Sir Henry French said he had been sent here by his Minister, Sir Ben Smith, to thank New Zealand —the Government, exporters, producers, processing industries, and the public—for all it had done to help feed Britain during the war. Britain was essentially an importing country, and could not live unless it got food from overseas. Britain owed a great debt to New Zealand. Every post in the Ministry of Food was filled on its merits, but it was possible to borrow some sterling good men from New Zealand. There was Mr R. S. Forsyth, London manager of the New Zealand Meat Board, who died during the war, and Mr H. E. Davis and Mr J. W. Rodden, manager and assistant manager in London for the dairy sales division of the New Zealand Marketing Department. No other part of the world outside the United Kingdom had contributed to the strength of the Ministry of Food to the same extent. The Ministry became by far the largest world trading organisation, the staff totalling 50,000 and the trading account £800,000,000 sterling a year. The Ministry was purchasing 90 per cent, or rather more of the foodstuffs the people of the United Kingdom consumed.

In Lord Woolton they had had a Minister who commanded the confidence of the public. It had been necessary to call on the public for some very drastic restrictions and sacrifices. Never in history had the people been so contented under conditions that must have imposed great hardship on every home. “No Fruits of Victory” Sir Henry French said he was looking forward immensely to meeting producers and others interested in the export of foodstuffs. During the next 18 months or two years every 1000 tons that could be shipped to the United Kingdom would be of even greater value than it was during the war. They had maintained the health of the people, fighting fit, right up to V-Day. Then the housewife expected some of the fruits of victory, but she had none of them, and had even less coming into the home in 1945 than in 1944. From the news all had read in the papers it looked as if 1946 was going to be even more difficult. Everyone in New Zealand was interested in the question of how Britain was going to be fed in the future, and was anxious to do what they could to help. Everything New Zealand could do to increase the supply of staple foodstuffs such as dairy products and meat would be appreciated. He was satisfied, after discussions with Mr Nash, that it was the desire of the Government, which understood the position fully, to be as helpful as it could. “I am not here to plead for more, like Oliver Twist,” concluded Sir Henry French, “but to tell you we could not have fought and won the war without your help.”