FOOD OFFER BY AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24820, 9 March 1946, Page 7

FOOD OFFER BY AUSTRALIA

REJECTION BY BRITISH GOVERNMENT SHIPPING SPACE NOT AVAILABLE CANBERRA, March 7. "Food offered to Britain by Australia has been rejected by the British Government,” said the Minister of Commerce (Mr W. Scully) when replying to allegations by the Opposition that the Australian Government had not responded Satisfactorily to Britain’s appeal for food. In refusing 7500 tons of canned meat, the British Government claimed that no provision could be made for it in the British rationing system. Mr Scully said that 1,500,000 cases of apples, although ordered by Britain in October, were rejected because refrigerated ships were not available to carry them. Large quantities of table margarine, dehydrated and canned vegetables and glandular mutton had suffered the same fate. The meat had then been offered to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and rejected. The apples were being processed so as to be available for export later. Mr Scully added that this year Aus* tralian exports of food were expected to reach 2,500,000 tons, much of which would go to destinations close to Aus* tralia at the request of Britain. Despite the drought, 300,000 tons of meat and 115.000 tons of dairy produce would be shipped. Ih addition there would be 1,000,000 cases of eggs in the shell and egg pulp equivalent to

The Deputy-Leader of the Opposition (Mr E. J. Harrison) charged that the Government itself was governed by the pressure of Communist-con-trolled unions. Mr H. E. Holt (Liberal) said that Australians lost respect for the law when they saw sections of the community successfully flouting th£ law in defiance of the Government. Questions about the food taken to Britain by Mr J. A. Beasley, Australian Resident Minister in London, were asked by Mr H. L. Anthony (Country Party). Mr Anthony charged that the supplies taken included 4901 b of sugar. 1001 b of tea, several cases of milk, 109 cases of tinned fruit. 1001 b of cheese and four cases of turkeys. He had been informed that the Rationing Commission was over-ruled and that the necessary tea and sugar coupons were issued. “Mr Beasley has been looking after the people of Australia aha also looking after Mr Beasley handsomely,” Mr Anthony concluded.